I am looking to see if any member has taken a junk FT strut & cut it open.  What I am looking for is the I.D. of the tube, the O.D.  is about 2 1/8", so I am thinking about 2" but would like to know for sure ,  I don't have one to cut into.   Sooo......Any help would be great


I have a 98 Tracker, & I think there the same for most years

It depends on who makes them, but here are the stats for the Monroe strut:

    0.5 in. piston rod diameter
    1.19 in. bore
    15.25 in. extended length
    8.75 in. compressed length
    6.5 in. damper travel
    12.5 in. body length

Thanks for the info, but I guess I should have been more specific in that I am interested in the factory strut.... It has a O.D. of 2 1/8" so I know the bore must be more then the 1.19" that is listed for the Monroes

If it makes a difference it's a 4dr.

Also.....I think that there is a misprint on the Monroe specs. how can you have a 1/2" piston rod with the bore only being less then 1 1/8" that's a hair over 1/4" between the rod & the tube on each side...... not much shock action going on there

Also.....I think that there is a misprint on the Monroe specs. how can you have a 1/2" piston rod with the bore only being less then 1 1/8" that's a hair over 1/4" between the rod & the tube on each side...... not much shock action going on there

Your last statement is probably right. 

The following dimensions were taken from p/n#41601-65D10 - the front strut from a '98 SQ420 - a second generation Grand Vitara.  They should be similar to the first gen as the same OME struts are used on both vehicles.

I haven't cut the body (I just took them off) so I don't have the ID - yet.

Lower reference is the base of the strut, which appears to be four inches (100mm) lower than the reference point for the measurements above.  The upper reference is the step in the piston rod where the boot, etc. sit.

Extended length - 490mm
Compressed length - 320mm
Body length - 320mm
Total Length - 380mm
Piston rod diameter - 22mm
Piston rod step diameter - 17mm - this is the section of the rod passing through the strut mount.
Thread diameter - 14mm
Body diameter - 54.5mm

    Factory struts are made by KYB .There are many different part#'s . Sidekick or Geo/Chevy Tracker are going to be the strut you will want measurements from. Four door and two door will have different part#'s ,but will have same size ID bore.

I have an old clapped out OME laying around, if you want it to cut apart it's yours. Shipping on you.

Why  Just wondering

Jeff

The reason I was interested is they used to have a off road racing class for VW water cooled  rabbits & rabbit P/U & they would modify the front strut for longer travel by taking the screw top off, removing ( guts ) the piston, then cut the stock lower spring retainer off, leaving just the round tube with the bottom camber mounts.  Then welding a threaded sleeve over the outside of the housing that is cut to the desired length with a internal thread on the top of the sleeve for a retaining cap to hold a shock inside of the strut tube, like replacing the shock with a aftermarket insert.  They would cut the heim end off the bottom of the shock then drop in inside the tube, screw the retaining cap on to hold the shock inside the tube, screw a lower coil spring retainer on to the threaded sleave then put what ever spring on,  attach the upper spring retainer and strut bearing  then install.  What you have is like the fox shock that someone posted on here, a coil over adjustable front strut....but about 1/4 the cost of the Fox setup & it doesn't need the top adaptor  & will eliminate the stock spring, I don't see why it won't work for a sidekick strut if the I.D. of the strut housing is greater then 2" which is the O.D. of most shocks

Brent.... might take you up on that, do you know what is the cost to 85305

Who's Brent ? I can probably get it shipped to ya for around 10 bucks if you want.

That is a lot of work, but you have to love the engineering that can go into keeping a suspension 'stock'.    It would be cool to see the final results.

bentparts..... sorry for the typo, hurt my hand so doing the one finger typing.... I ran into someone in town that is changing his ft. struts, so might get some from him if not will let you know.

  It's not as much work as the fox front setup, just have a machine shop make the sleeve & cap & retainers then you do the welding, find the shock/spring combo you want & put it together.

Cool. Thanks for letting me know why. Hope it works.