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strut extender review needed

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dentedzuk

strut extender review needed
« on: December 20, 2007, 10:44:25 AM »
Hey all,
I curious about others reviews of BDS's strut extenders.  I have a set and am planning on using with some spring spacers.  I recall 2 people posting about breaking them.  My ride is a DD and im not in a hurry lose a strut riding on the highway to work,  so i wanted to know what others experiences where with them.
Thanks,
James
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Offline Yankee-Tim

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Re: strut extender review needed
« Reply #1 on: December 20, 2007, 07:08:32 PM »
Frankly, I find strut extenders frightening on a MacPherson set-up.  On a dual A-arm, maybe.  But tha Mac set up uses the strut as part of the locating configuration.
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Offline tipover

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Re: strut extender review needed
« Reply #2 on: December 21, 2007, 01:05:16 AM »
they we too long for my kick.  they let the cv's bind on extension
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Wheeler-87 Samurai JX. 7" lift, 1.6 TBI, lockers hybrid rear, 33" Swampers, 6 to 1s in a billet housing.
RV Dingy-2003 2 door tracker
Tow-97 PSD F250 Crew SB Dana 60 conversion
87 samurai-spoa ZookEV electric conversion.
RV- 31' Monaco Mckenzie
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dentedzuk

Re: strut extender review needed
« Reply #3 on: December 21, 2007, 04:43:26 AM »
I was told they work good for daily commuting, but am also curious how they handle wheeling.  That doesnt sound to good about letting the cv's bind  when extended.    How much longer are the old man emu struts than oem? If they are 2" longer as well wouldnt the cv's bind the same way?  I notice most kits add 2.5" of susp!  Anyways, I bought them coz it seemed the only cheap alternate to OME struts for the 2gen vittracks.. doing the whole lift for about $175 (2" spring spacers, strut extenders, camberbolts, shock extenders) is in my price range.  The only place Ive seen new struts was Rocky-road for $120 per strut.. unfortunately right now I cant afford that plus springs.  Is there any other alternatives to OME struts/ BDS strut extenders in North America?
thanks guys
james
Merry Christmas
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Offline bzzr2

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Re: strut extender review needed
« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2007, 07:12:50 PM »
the bds extenders add 70mm of travel to the stock struts, the ome struts are 50mm longer than the stock stuts without extenders, so the ome's are close to 1inch shorter on travel, so better for cv life, so in the long run probably the best bet.  my stock struts have done some hard work over the last 2yrs, once they are getting bad i'll upgrade to the ome's at the expense of the 20mm of travel just for peace of mind.  my strut extenders were a tough install also..  if you're bringing it to a shop add an hour of labour for that.
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Offline ppltrak

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Re: strut extender review needed
« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2007, 07:42:41 PM »
Call SKy" and order his strut extenders they are pretty trick.

  Kevin
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2002 GV 2.5l 4.5 ZN lift locked on 31's
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Offline tipover

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Re: strut extender review needed
« Reply #6 on: December 21, 2007, 07:45:08 PM »
My extenders are almost 3" long.  I fixed the problem of the hyperextension by lowerinf the diff 1.5 inches.  The other problem is that the strut would run out of shaft when bottoming out before it hit the bump stops.  I had to add 1.25" bumpstop extensions.  mine has a 2.5" lift. when you lower the diff and still use the stock A arms you cannot keep the sway bar because it hits the Pass side boot.

that is the whole story with my setup.  it does work alot better than stock, but I got a few Samurais to actually wheel.
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Wheeler-87 Samurai JX. 7" lift, 1.6 TBI, lockers hybrid rear, 33" Swampers, 6 to 1s in a billet housing.
RV Dingy-2003 2 door tracker
Tow-97 PSD F250 Crew SB Dana 60 conversion
87 samurai-spoa ZookEV electric conversion.
RV- 31' Monaco Mckenzie
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dentedzuk

Re: strut extender review needed
« Reply #7 on: December 22, 2007, 04:37:22 AM »
Quote from: bzzr2 on December 21, 2007, 07:12:50 PM
the bds extenders add 70mm of travel to the stock struts, the ome struts are 50mm longer than the stock stuts without extenders, so the ome's are close to 1inch shorter on travel, so better for cv life, so in the long run probably the best bet.  my stock struts have done some hard work over the last 2yrs, once they are getting bad i'll upgrade to the ome's at the expense of the 20mm of travel just for peace of mind.  my strut extenders were a tough install also..  if you're bringing it to a shop add an hour of labour for that.

OK man, im a total noob and dont understand so bare with me, but, how can you run a 1" longer strut than OEM with +1.25" lift coils and 1" spacer (like RRs kit)? Wouldnt you need a +2.25" strut?

Quote from: ppltrak on December 21, 2007, 07:42:41 PM
Call SKy" and order his strut extenders they are pretty trick.

  Kevin

I checked out skys website and only seen a strut spacer for trackers.  Would those work in a 2nd gen?

Quote from: tipover on December 21, 2007, 07:45:08 PM
My extenders are almost 3" long.  I fixed the problem of the hyperextension by lowerinf the diff 1.5 inches.  The other problem is that the strut would run out of shaft when bottoming out before it hit the bump stops.  I had to add 1.25" bumpstop extensions.  mine has a 2.5" lift. when you lower the diff and still use the stock A arms you cannot keep the sway bar because it hits the Pass side boot.

that is the whole story with my setup.  it does work alot better than stock, but I got a few Samurais to actually wheel.

So your still running your BDS extenders and their holding up? Cool :) thats what im looking for!
Where did you get your bumpstops/diff drops?
Im gonna run 1-1.5" front coil spacers... so hopefully i dont have to remove my sway bar.


Thanks guys,
James

Zukiworld, schooling noobs on a daily basis!!!  ;)
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Offline tipover

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Re: strut extender review needed
« Reply #8 on: December 22, 2007, 08:54:33 AM »
I used a 1.5" spacer for the front springs.  that gave me 2 3/8" lift.  I used 1.5 inch diff drops from a old procomp lift.  I did not use the any other procomp lift parts in the front and thier springs were stiff.  The sway bar will hit with stock a arms with any spacer even if you shorten the end cinnecting rod.  I tried trust me on that.  I made the bump stop spacer.  I took a peice of 1.5 inch round tubing and got 2 large washers.  I weled a metric bolt in on and a nut on the other and then welde those to the tube.  I did not loose any travel I use all but the last .5 in of the strut on compression.

on the back I used 2.5" springs from the procomp and am just at the point of super slicht vibrations.  and did the Crown vic shocks.  I get about 13" of twist in the back and 8 in the front for a 21 of total flex on a 4 door.  not back for a motor home dingy for the whole family.

hope that helps

Jason
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Wheeler-87 Samurai JX. 7" lift, 1.6 TBI, lockers hybrid rear, 33" Swampers, 6 to 1s in a billet housing.
RV Dingy-2003 2 door tracker
Tow-97 PSD F250 Crew SB Dana 60 conversion
87 samurai-spoa ZookEV electric conversion.
RV- 31' Monaco Mckenzie
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Offline Uncivilized

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Re: strut extender review needed
« Reply #9 on: December 22, 2007, 09:03:41 AM »
Quote from: dentedzuk on December 22, 2007, 04:37:22 AM
I checked out skys website and only seen a strut spacer for trackers.  Would those work in a 2nd gen?
Sky's website is being re-designed, and has been for a little while. Some of the stuff available isn't listed, so it's best to just call them and tell them what you're looking for, they'll do there best to help you out.
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Offline bzzr2

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Re: strut extender review needed
« Reply #10 on: December 22, 2007, 09:59:54 AM »
on my 2nd gen tracker i have not removed the sway bar, can't lift anymore without removing though, i have no diff drop brackets up front and no bump stop extensions and so far have no problems. 

the OME strut is the roughly the same length as the ome lift spring, without adding a coil spacer. 
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03-ZR2, 2dr, 31x10.5 SSR's & stuff...--sold :-(
03 xl7, jeff's 2inch spacer lift, 225/75/16's; sold
09 taco reg cab short box 4x4
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Offline tipover

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Re: strut extender review needed
« Reply #11 on: December 22, 2007, 12:07:05 PM »
Quote from: bzzr2 on December 22, 2007, 09:59:54 AM
on my 2nd gen tracker i have not removed the sway bar, can't lift anymore without removing though, i have no diff drop brackets up front and no bump stop extensions and so far have no problems. 

the OME strut is the roughly the same length as the ome lift spring, without adding a coil spacer. 

yea the drop diff is the issue for the sway bar
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Wheeler-87 Samurai JX. 7" lift, 1.6 TBI, lockers hybrid rear, 33" Swampers, 6 to 1s in a billet housing.
RV Dingy-2003 2 door tracker
Tow-97 PSD F250 Crew SB Dana 60 conversion
87 samurai-spoa ZookEV electric conversion.
RV- 31' Monaco Mckenzie
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Offline sidekick 4x4

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Re: strut extender review needed
« Reply #12 on: December 22, 2007, 03:39:30 PM »
i have a set of strut exxternders and ive never had them break or anthing like that but if i had to buy them again i dont think i would bc they have broken 2 cv shafts bc like they said they bind up when the strut is fully extended but if u dont do alot of offroading then you might be ok
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1990 sidekick,snorkel, 2.5" coil spacers, procomp shocks and strut extenders, 3" calmini body lift, 30" A/T,CHEERY BOMB MUFFLER
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Offline geeeeoooo

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Re: strut extender review needed
« Reply #13 on: December 23, 2007, 08:46:38 AM »
i made my own spacers using the sky design in mind.....i used a solid chunk of roundstock stainless which i then turned in a lathe and then cut threads on the inside and outside of them so that they screw into the top of the strut, and bolt thr the strut mount... which i didnt flip...i know of a guy on here that has had some unfortunate luck with the boondox brand spacers, but he recently JUMPED his zuke offroading near his house, and the next weekend we were out at a mudbog, and he hit a hole pretty hard and the spacer actually split, letting everything unwind from there.....his was a newer model....00 i think...they have a 1 piece ball join assy which i guess according to him is pricey, but boondox has never heard of this they told him...and they shipped him a new set and no charge.....really good for the customer service point of view.....but thru my abUSE, ive never had any issues with mine....
« Last Edit: December 23, 2007, 08:52:53 AM by geeeeoooo »
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Offline geeeeoooo

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Re: strut extender review needed
« Reply #14 on: December 23, 2007, 08:50:08 AM »
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