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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: RJkick on June 30, 2009, 09:15:18 AM

Title: My Strut broke on through to the other side
Post by: RJkick on June 30, 2009, 09:15:18 AM

I was running through some desert whoops and the strut on the passenger's side broke through so now I can see the top strut washer and part of the rod depending on the suspension movement.

At first I thought of just replacing it but now I am wondering if it would be stronger to weld it.  


What do you run?  Stock strut mounts or an aftermarket style or custom fab?


Thoughts?

Title: Re: My Strut broke on through to the other side
Post by: Jeremiah on June 30, 2009, 01:14:39 PM

I've seen strut towers running over the engine used (bolt on). I've seen ones tieing back to the firewall (bolt on), and the F150 shock towers tied to the frame & modified to accept struts (welded).

Title: Re: My Strut broke on through to the other side
Post by: fordem on June 30, 2009, 07:14:09 PM

First - what is it that broke - the strut broke through mount or the strut (and mount) broke through the frame?

If it's the mount that tore apart, replace it, it'll be noisy if you weld it solid.

Second - and this is just a suggestion - if the vehicle is a body-on-frame vehicle - don't brace the strut tops to the firewall.

Title: Re: My Strut broke on through to the other side
Post by: RJkick on July 01, 2009, 11:39:15 AM

I have to wait until this weekend to know for sure

more to follow

Title: Re: My Strut broke on through to the other side
Post by: wildgoody on July 07, 2009, 11:32:40 PM

Ive had a front strut mount failure, rubber and steel bond fails and the washer pushed
out of the mount, just replace the bad mount , I carry a spare now just in case

Wild

Title: Re: My Strut broke on through to the other side
Post by: essjay on July 07, 2009, 11:43:07 PM

One of my old buddies from high school was hillhopping his escort, and sent both rear shocks through the wheelwell, is that what you mean happened?  If so, have to do what he did, weld it all back up with some metal plate and remount the shocks, worked for him for a couple more years.

Title: Re: My Strut broke on through to the other side
Post by: bzzr2 on July 08, 2009, 07:13:22 AM

i've been lucky enough to have the rubber seperate from the metal on 3 mounts to date.. 

Title: Re: My Strut broke on through to the other side
Post by: bzzr2 on July 08, 2009, 05:40:04 PM

make that 4 & 1/2 mounts now...  got some clunking on the way home today and the pass mount has completely seperated while the drivers side appears to be half seperated now.. 

Title: Re: My Strut broke on through to the other side
Post by: Jeremiah on July 09, 2009, 09:40:47 AM

You jumping your rig?

Title: Re: My Strut broke on through to the other side
Post by: RJkick on July 09, 2009, 11:20:19 AM

Whoops are killing mine I believe

I need to find a tougher mounting system

Title: Re: My Strut broke on through to the other side
Post by: bzzr2 on July 10, 2009, 10:02:44 AM

i'm not jumping it but when i do wheel it i like to giver a little sometimes...    my thoughts to my issues are that i have the bds strut extensions installed and no bump stop spacers so on hard bounces the strut may be coming up too far and causing excess stress on the mount.  i've just received new strut extensions as i'm also installing new struts because mine are both finished, the new extensions from bits4vits look to be about an inch shorter then the bds extensions, hoping this will elimitate the problem by reducing potential up travel taking some stress of the mount with a fully compressed strut. 

Title: Re: My Strut broke on through to the other side
Post by: crikeymike on July 21, 2009, 02:25:24 PM

I blew an OME strut by bottoming it out.  Using it in conjunction with the calmini spacer didn't seem like a good idea for fast driving.  It bottomed out hard and the strut fully compressed and tried to go a bit further, therefore blowing.  Replaced the strut, but still have yet to do the bump stop spacers.  Since most of my offroading is very slow, it hasn't been a high priority, but I know I need to fix it.