OME N40L shock Discontinued

[jeepdoggydogB]

For folks that do not know it yet, the OME N40L has been disconintued by OME. I had a pair of these on the rear of my MJ since 2007 with a 3 inch lift. In 2008 I installed the HellCreek MT leafs with 3 inch of lift which netted about 4 inches of lift. nJust 3.5 years later I noticed the shock was leaking and began researching a replacement with ARB, Don (Hornbrod), and others. From their advice I ordered the OME XJ 3-5 inch lift OME N36L shocks.

 

From my research

 

N40L open 25.8 inches, closed 15.6

N36L open 24.5, closed 14.6

 

It took 6 weeks for the new shocks to get here, and just in the nick of time as the shock broke at the bottom eyelett which explains why it was leaking (it was cracked). Using my neighbors trusty Harbor Freight 12 ton press, we removed the top bar pin from the N36L, and replaced it with the N40L polyurethane insert. Getting the barpin out was toughest part of the job, it took us about an hour! Installed it and will be other one next weekend (we had to break for Mother's Day) Originally I was concerned that the N40L had more than an inch more of play, but it appears that they are almost equal. When I remove the other shock that is not broken I will measure them N40L with the N36L side by side and see if my research numbers are correct. :cheers:

[HOrnbrod]

Joe, what was the problem getting out the bar pin out of the new N36L? The N40Ls also had bar pins and they were pretty easy to get out using my giant vice and sockets. Is it built differently?

[jeepdoggydogB]

Joe, what was the problem getting out the bar pin out of the new N36L? The N40Ls also had bar pins and they were pretty easy to get out using my giant vice and sockets. Is it built differently?

Yes, in addition to the rubber sleeve there was an off sized metal sleeve that we had the heck of a time finding a socket that matched the circumference to push the sleeve out. Pushing the bar pin out was easy. :ack:

[HOrnbrod]

I have been searching for the "perfect" rear shock ever since the rear ZJ N40 / N40L's were discontinued. Tried the 5100 series Bilsteins; okay but too stiff for me. While perusing ARB's catalog I found an OME Nitrocharger shock, # N30 (actually a rear shock for a 96-05 Nissan Terrano R20 whatever that is) with similar specs to the extinct N40 / N40L shocks:

 

N40L expanded 25.8 inches, compressed 15.6
N30 expanded 24.3, compressed 14.4

 

I called my old buddy TR who works for ARB out in Renton, WA and he had 30 of them left in his warehouse. Ordered, installed, perfect. Not too firm or soft. No bar pins to press out; they have a 5/8" eye on each end and fit the MJ shock mounts as they should. These are great rear shocks for any MJ with a 1"-3" lift. In case you are looking, contact TR at ARB.

 

T.R. Burrus

Regional Sales Manager

ARB USA: Air Locker, Inc

TR Burrus <tburrus@arbusa.com>

[johnj92131]

Don, do you have a price for the shock?