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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: cablesmurf on December 04, 2006, 08:13:47 PM

Title: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: cablesmurf on December 04, 2006, 08:13:47 PM
So, I've been having this clunk in the front of my Tracker since I put the lift on. I figures out today that the struts are fully exteded and are toping out just from regular driving. I jacked the Tracker up from the frame and the tire did not move...it stayed in the same spot.  ::) I have the Calmini strut spacers and I did the strut mount flip when I did the lift, and they are still too short I ordered the Boondox stut extenders today. Hopefully that helps, cause I don't want to spring for the OME struts.

Anyone else have this problem?

For those who don't know, I have the Calmini 6" combo and 1" coil spacers.
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: HotRod on December 04, 2006, 08:38:28 PM
With the Calmini lift still being new and not broken in.
It is giving you almost 6"inches of lift already.
adding the 1"inch spacers are giving you another 2"inch lift.
My front control arms are almost level now.
Yours are angle alot and maxing out you Struts.
You could just remove the spacers for now and be fine.
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: Rhinoman on December 05, 2006, 05:14:17 AM
You've got too much lift. If you keep on extending the struts then you will end up trashing the driveshafts due to too much angle on the CVs. Take the spacers out and wait and see if it settles.
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: Uncivilized on December 05, 2006, 07:17:22 AM
I'm with above, remove the coil spacers, and start cutting some fenderage.
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: cablesmurf on December 05, 2006, 09:02:09 PM
With the Calmini lift still being new and not broken in.
It is giving you almost 6"inches of lift already.
adding the 1"inch spacers are giving you another 2"inch lift.
My front control arms are almost level now.
Yours are angle alot and maxing out you Struts.
You could just remove the spacers for now and be fine.


I have no idea what you are talking about...these don't look level to you? :P
(http://members.shaw.ca/samdog/front.JPG)

Seriously though, I hear so many conflicting stories. Some say they run the 3" kit with 2" spacers on top with no issues. I would take the spacers out, but it's just too damned much work!

The worst part is, it's not a DD, so it'll take forever to settle. I'll try the strut extenders, and if that doesn't work, I'll take the spacers out. ::)
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: TysonS on December 05, 2006, 10:09:02 PM
if you but in those strut extenders take it off road and jump it about 10 times and then it will settle down and you can take the strut spacers out  8)
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: HotRod on December 05, 2006, 10:27:44 PM
if you but in those strut extenders take it off road and jump it about 10 times and then it will settle down and you can take the strut spacers out  8)
And add 300 more pounds to the front.
(Winch and bumper).
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: cablesmurf on December 06, 2006, 06:58:29 AM
The bumper is on and I test fitted the winch...and the front didn't budge. Total weight of the bumper winch combo was about 140 -150 lbs. Guess I gotta get driving it!
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: Speedracer7c on December 06, 2006, 06:39:22 PM
Those cv's are pretty much maxed like that. Mine looked like that and I blew both of them in the same trip. Actually shattered the inside cup.....The winch bumper really helps settle it out.
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: derekj on December 07, 2006, 12:04:19 AM
just so you know the boondox spacers are also available from bds suspension. might be a little easier to get them from a supplier in canada instead of going thru the whole border hassles. i wouldn't go that route though as your cv's are maxed out right now and adding 2
" more drop will just put even more strain on them.

derek
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: TysonS on December 07, 2006, 04:15:47 PM
if you just want to settle the suspension down i would take out the cv's and go and jump it a few times.  That way there will be no cv damage and it will settle the springs, don't be afraid to jump it. ;D
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: Zukipilot on December 08, 2006, 04:44:05 AM

Seriously though, I hear so many conflicting stories. Some say they run the 3" kit with 2" spacers on top with no issues. I would take the spacers out, but it's just too damned much work!

The worst part is, it's not a DD, so it'll take forever to settle. I'll try the strut extenders, and if that doesn't work, I'll take the spacers out. ::)

Your 3" suspension lift is designed to have the Calmini strut extension and the factory mounts in the original location, not flipped. If you use your current set up in 4x4 with just a little pounding, you will rip out your CV's and be forced to take it apart to fix any way (plus buy new half shafts). I know this because I tried it (without the spacers) and finally gave up after wasting MANY CV's and alot of money. Even if you can get longer struts the only way your CV's will survive is if you dont use them (or use very mildly).

I would suggest, taking out the spacers, flipping the factory upper mount back to it's original position and use OME struts woth the Calmini spacer. Your suspension fill function properly and it will ride MUCH better without placing your CV's in such an insane angle.

HTH,
Zig
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: Rhinoman on December 08, 2006, 04:50:51 AM
don't be afraid to jump it. ;D

Be afraid, its a good way to bend the strut towers.
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: cj on December 08, 2006, 05:21:42 AM
don't be afraid to jump it. ;D

Be afraid, its a good way to bend the strut towers.

Mine's got a strut brace  :P ;D
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: cablesmurf on December 08, 2006, 09:18:29 AM
Spacers will be comming out, when I get the time.... ::)

Just gotta get my garage back together as I'm insulating and rewiring it.

I've got a bunch of crap to do to the tracker and it's gonna get cold again so I want the the garage nice and toasty!

List of things to do:

- extend the t-case shifter
- re install the center console
- take the coils spacers out
- finish and install the rear bumper and swing out
- Modify and install the Jamboree rack
- raise the gas tank
- swap out the factory broken headlights for the new ones I got off e-bay
- build and install the rockrails
- get an alignment

I JUST NEED TIME!!!!! :P
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: Uncivilized on December 08, 2006, 09:32:10 AM
List of things to do:

- extend the t-case shifter
- re install the center console
- take the coils spacers out
- finish and install the rear bumper and swing out
- Modify and install the Jamboree rack
- raise the gas tank
- swap out the factory broken headlights for the new ones I got off e-bay
- build and install the rockrails
- get an alignment
-GO WHEELING!!!  >:D

I JUST NEED TIME!!!!! :P
;D
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: TysonS on December 08, 2006, 09:46:01 AM
i have 2 1/4" coil spacers in the front of mine and after jumping it 2 or 3 times they have sagged about a 1" so im going to be putting 4dr front coils into my 2dr to get that 1" back.  I wouldn't worry about the strut towers unless your going huge on the jumps, mine havn't bent and mine has been about 2 feet off the ground, not bending or breaking
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: Digger on December 09, 2006, 01:57:26 AM
I wouldn't worry about the strut towers unless your going huge on the jumps, mine havn't bent and mine has been about 2 feet off the ground, not bending or breaking


Only 2 feet? LOL!

(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL72/842221/1811422/99483747.jpg)

(I actually thought I had bent the towers, turns out it was just a camber adjuster that came loose combined with a collapsed body mount...)
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: TysonS on December 09, 2006, 12:34:51 PM
i would jump mine higher but it was in the winter and i couldn't make it up the hill so i hit it a little faster and took a little air.  one day i will jump mine higher  >:D  don't have th money right now to fix anything that breaks
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: kirknd4spd on December 09, 2006, 02:55:32 PM
i only jumped my zuk once. it felt kinda unstable, so i didnt do it again. however, i used to have a f150 that i jumped a few times....i jumped over the intersection 3 times at 70mph before i broke anything.  ;D
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: cablesmurf on December 09, 2006, 07:18:59 PM
This thread seems to be losing focus... ::)

One would think that if the struts are topping out...jumping it would cause damage to them...like rip them apart?


I'll be taking the spacers out next weekend...since I got most of the garage done today. Finally, I'll be warm. I should be starting on the rear bumper then too.
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: HotRod on December 09, 2006, 11:48:32 PM
This thread seems to be losing focus... ::)

One would think that if the struts are topping out...jumping it would cause damage to them...like rip them apart?


I'll be taking the spacers out next weekend...since I got most of the garage done today. Finally, I'll be warm. I should be starting on the rear bumper then too.
Besides.
Most Jumps tend to bend the strut mounts inwards.
Unless  you have a strut brace but still, Not really a good Idea.
Ask the people that have to re bend their strut mounts back to specs ;)
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: TysonS on December 10, 2006, 10:44:02 PM
if they bend inward that is just going to help with the camber issue  >:D
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: bzzr2 on December 11, 2006, 07:51:07 AM
my struts have been topping out all summer, on the street and of course wheeling.  rig has less than 40000km on it and they are making noise when it's cold now, but.... they still work like new!  if you are going to consider the OME's maybe just drive yours letting them top out until there's a problem with them, i don't think calmini struts on their own will resell anyway if you didn't wanna use them.  i'm not sure i'm clear on what zukipilot is saying about not having your mounts flipped and using OME's with the calmini spacer instead?? 
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: Zukipilot on December 11, 2006, 08:40:01 AM
The Calmini 3" lift is designed to have the upper strut spacer installed with the factory mount in it's original poistion (no flipped).

From what I under stand the comment stated that the upper strut mount currently had the calmini 3" lift upper spacer and the factory mount flipped. This will allow the A-Arm to drop further causing the CV's to bind and break under just moderate use.

I ran mine like that and snapped CV's on every trip untill I flipped the factory upper strut mount back to it's original location.

With the OME struts, you will get a MUCH better ride and a little longer travel. So if you go with the OME's, be sure that the factory mount is in it's original position (not flipped) or you'll start trashing CV's with the extra drop.

Did this clear it up, or id I further confuse the issue?

Zig
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: Rhinoman on December 11, 2006, 11:35:43 AM
but.... they still work like new!  if you are going to consider the OME's maybe just drive yours letting them top out until there's a problem with them,

You should bear in mind that if the strut is topping out under cornering loads then you will start to lose grip on that corner, it can be a little scary in the wet. I only drove mine like that for one day and that was enough. It was also pretty poor off road because the front was lifting all the time - I've never been stuck so often.
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: bzzr2 on December 11, 2006, 12:57:43 PM
by the sounds of the topping out issue maybe i'm not in as bad of shape, i only run a inch spacer in the front and it sits level with 2.25 in the back.  of course on mine no stut mount flipping...

i guess my confusion is with guys who running the calmini lift and the OME strut -- do you still keep the calmini strut spacer?
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: cj on December 11, 2006, 06:07:10 PM


i guess my confusion is with guys who running the calmini lift and the OME strut -- do you still keep the calmini strut spacer?

I do  >:D
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: cablesmurf on December 11, 2006, 10:07:51 PM
The Calmini 3" lift is designed to have the upper strut spacer installed with the factory mount in it's original poistion (no flipped).

From what I under stand the comment stated that the upper strut mount currently had the calmini 3" lift upper spacer and the factory mount flipped. This will allow the A-Arm to drop further causing the CV's to bind and break under just moderate use.

I ran mine like that and snapped CV's on every trip untill I flipped the factory upper strut mount back to it's original location.

With the OME struts, you will get a MUCH better ride and a little longer travel. So if you go with the OME's, be sure that the factory mount is in it's original position (not flipped) or you'll start trashing CV's with the extra drop.

Did this clear it up, or id I further confuse the issue?

Zig

That makes sense. The only issue I have with the struts, is that the noise drives me bonkers. I can't stand the clunking over every little bump! Makes it sound like something is loose...and I can't handle that!
Title: Re: Friggin Struts!!!
Post by: TysonS on December 11, 2006, 10:18:50 PM
do you have a stereo  ;D