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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: hap on July 08, 2006, 12:15:16 PM

Title: Broken spacer pic
Post by: hap on July 08, 2006, 12:15:16 PM
Anyone ever have this happen before? They only have about 500k on them all on the road. With all the trouble I have had just to put little 30 inch tires on I think I am going back to stock.  :'(

(http://img317.imageshack.us/img317/6210/spacer3sa.jpg)
Title: Re: Broken spacer pic
Post by: john1974 on July 08, 2006, 12:17:43 PM
well I got leafs and a spring over on my zuk, but that spacer sure didnt last long...

Title: Re: Broken spacer pic
Post by: Digger on July 08, 2006, 03:51:09 PM
Anyone ever have this happen before? They only have about 500k on them all on the road. With all the trouble I have had just to put little 30 inch tires on I think I am going back to stock.  :'(

([url]http://img317.imageshack.us/img317/6210/spacer3sa.jpg[/url])


500k??!? That's like 500,000 miles! You probably meant 500 miles. Even still spacers shouldn't break like that. I would be worried about the fit and the quality of the materials used in making those spacers. If it was one of the ones I've made, I would most definately send you a new one, but that is obviously not my work. I would be very surprized if one of my spacers broke like that...

See if the manufacturer will replace it for you. If not, how thick is that one? I can sell you either a pair or even a single spacer in either 1", 1.5" or 2" thick to get you fixed up... Let me know. 8)
Title: Re: Broken spacer pic
Post by: hap on July 08, 2006, 04:23:50 PM
Thanks for the offer Digger, I will let you know after the manufacturer gets back to me.

Guess I should have said 500 kilometers.

I took the weight off it to get a better look. It seems as though the spring somehow rolled the center piece that goes inside the spring in. Then it looks as if part of the spring actually forced its way inside the spacer creating the tear you see in the pic.  Keep

edit - Guess I should say that this is a 01 4 door tracker
Title: Re: Broken spacer pic
Post by: Digger on July 08, 2006, 04:40:37 PM
Well, to be real honest, I don't know if my spacers would fit a newer model like an 01. I do see a potential problem with the install, though. If you pry out the stock rubber spring isolator from the upper spring cup, then put the spacer all the way into the spring cup and put the isolator back on between the spring and the spacer, the spring might not have worked it's way inside the spacer...
Title: Re: Broken spacer pic
Post by: hap on July 08, 2006, 04:54:43 PM
In the instructions it says if leaving the stock isolator on to install it first. These particular spacers have a groove for the end of the spring to sit in, just like the lower seat. I don't think the stock piece would fit on it properly. Mind you it wouldn't be the first time I was wrong!
Title: Re: Broken spacer pic
Post by: 4njeep on July 08, 2006, 05:03:44 PM
holly cow that sucks. i just put the exact same one in my 92 2dr. i think i will keep and eye on them. they seemed like they were pretty soft to me. maybe that was the problem. keep us updated if they will replace it or not. it would be a shame if they didnt.
Title: Re: Broken spacer pic
Post by: ddevil on July 08, 2006, 05:12:21 PM
yeah aren't they(those particular spacers) made from some type of urethane? 

mike
Title: Re: Broken spacer pic
Post by: hap on July 08, 2006, 05:20:44 PM
Yes milk I think they are, and I will let everyone know how it ends up.

I just want to note that I didn't start this post to slam or put pressure on any manufacturer. I just noticed the spacer today so obviously just contacted the dealer today. Being a weekend I wouldn't expect to hear from them until Monday. Out of the 5 or 6 companies I have dealt with since I bought my tracker, these guys gave the best customer service and shipped super quick.
Title: Re: Broken spacer pic
Post by: AJMBLAZER on July 08, 2006, 05:36:35 PM
Digger, your spacers should fit a 99+ no problem.  The more I dink with my GV and my Tracker the more I realize they use a lot of the same components.  It seems like where Suzuki changed stuff they just did the logical next step.

I also happen to know that several other spacer makers claim their spacers fit all IFS Suzukis.  Other than the isolater not fitting over this particular kind of spacer due to the "spring notch" there should be no fitment issues.
Title: Re: Broken spacer pic
Post by: ddevil on July 08, 2006, 06:05:17 PM
oh i'm not bashing at all, i just find comfort in my uhmw spacers are really hard and not squishy urethane stuff.

also this reminds me i really should put my coil isolators back in soon.  :P

mike
Title: Re: Broken spacer pic
Post by: Digger on July 08, 2006, 06:09:39 PM
Okay, I don't have a newer model to test them on, so that's why I say 89-98 models since I know for sure they fit those.

Hap, if the spacers have a groove for the spring, then you had them in right. Apparently the material might have had a bubble in the wrong spot or something like that. My spacers have to go between the coil cup and the isolator since they are very simplistic in design and I have no way to easily cut a groove for the spring. Just a different design is all. I do know that RRO spacers(which claim 1-1/8", but are only actually barely 1" thick :-\) can be installed either under or over the stock isolator, but they hold up much better if the stock isolator is mounted between the spacer and the spring. The RRO spacers will get deformed quickly if they are mounted directly against the spring...
Title: Re: Broken spacer pic
Post by: Rhinoman on July 09, 2006, 08:14:28 AM
These are the spacers that Dave Jones has made over here. The company that makes them has a lot of experience moulding this type of material for automotive applications. I would suggest that you contact him directly as well, you are right to go through your supplier but its worth giving him the heads up on this. He is a good bloke and I know he will be quite shocked to learn about this.

http://www.k9rdj.co.uk
Title: Re: Broken spacer pic
Post by: hap on July 09, 2006, 09:37:09 AM
Update - I have already heard back from the supplier and a new one will be in the mail on Mon. Very good customer service with no questions asked. Maybe this one just had a slight defect I didn't notice as the other 3 look fine.
Title: Re: Broken spacer pic
Post by: Rhinoman on July 09, 2006, 10:27:03 AM
You might want to take a few measurements and look into extending your bumpstops. I believe that with the spacers in place the coils will fully compress before the bumpstops are reached. That is going to put a high load on the spacers, its also going to cause spring sag.
Title: Re: Broken spacer pic
Post by: CJ11 on July 09, 2006, 12:51:48 PM
I got my spacers from ROADLESS GEAR they are very helpful and will answer any Questions  you may have. They have 1 1/2 spacers that hold up well they have beat on off-road many times never broke, split, or cracked good quality stuff also bought my strut spacers through them the # is1-888-762-3537....
Title: Re: Broken spacer pic
Post by: mozone on July 09, 2006, 07:39:33 PM
i have had the spacers from digger in for a year know and the are holdin up great. the do fit in the newer gv mine is a 2001. only had to file the top edge with a file to seat them perfectly.his product is very durable. ;D
Title: Re: Broken spacer pic
Post by: Jeremiah on July 09, 2006, 07:51:09 PM
I do know that RRO spacers(which claim 1-1/8", but are only actually barely 1" thick :-\)


RRO Lie? I'm shocked   ::) Kinda like some of their kits that "work with all aftermarket bumpers" yeah... Riiiiiiiiiiiight.
Title: Re: Broken spacer pic
Post by: Maroon Monsoon on July 09, 2006, 08:44:11 PM
are those boondox spacers? I noticed on my 2000 GV that they were too big around for the coil but I made them work. they were too big to go into the cup in the back but they worked great up fornt. I left my isolators in the back and took them off the front cause I would have had to cut them up fornt but I wish I would have for that extra little bit.

there is a reason the rocky road spacers are two differend sizes if you look at a pic. I was hoping the boondox ones would be that way but they weren't. glad to hear they are sending a new one. if that happens to me they freaking better do the same
Title: Re: Broken spacer pic
Post by: Maroon Monsoon on July 09, 2006, 08:57:06 PM
You might want to take a few measurements and look into extending your bumpstops. I believe that with the spacers in place the coils will fully compress before the bumpstops are reached. That is going to put a high load on the spacers, its also going to cause spring sag.


bigger shocks should stop it before it would compress that much more I'd think. I measured it out but haven't installed any bump stop spacers yet but it's only like an inch that I am going to maybe do to let the bump stop compress a bit. the shock boot kind of acts like a bump stop on mine. I measured by taking the coils out and leaving the shocks on and tinkering with the jack to flex it and stuff