Hi people, I've been running in national CRTT (campeonato de rally todo terreno) competition here in Chile. It's a cross country rally , in my sidekick , not with optimun tyres nor with apropiate amount of money but being myself a hobby mechanic I managed to handle things and work my way to a first place in my class and third place among all competitors. We currently have arround 30 pickups (mainly Toyotas) and 2 suzukis ( a Samurai and my Sidekick). Besides telling you all this I need some help on mounting a second shock per wheel , in the rear it's easy ,but up front is something different as the bottom of the shock turns with the wheel , and there is little space left in the A-arm between the wheel and the inner "wheelwel" (not shure of that speling) Has anyone seen other sidekick with two shocks up front? How was that setup?
I really would like to mount to equal front shocks both holding the wheel and working as struts in order that the two struts can give better strength to the wheels , which receive big punding during the race.

Any help/ideas will be greatlly apreciated

I got some pics ...can someone help me uploding them?
thanks
Douglas

My suggestions

Are you running stock struts now?
See if there are other struts that may help. You'll certainly need a gas charged strut (to keep it from fading as the oil in the strut foams). You might also find a strut that would swap in but with different valving. Folks at OME would be a good bet to help out.

I really don't see how you could add another shock. Just isn't much room. A mount in front of the coil spring to a perch welded at the strut tower is all I can see as an option. But not sure if the steering will clear then ...

Yes they are stock. and I was thinking more in the rear side of the spring , cause in front as you say,the steering will bother .

The old Procomp 2.5" kit had an additional shock either side at the front. Was very stiff for normal use though. Where's Zig, didn't he have a Procomp for a short time? He needs to post more too  

Pro Comp does not make the kit anymore. I found one in a wrecking yard. When I contacted them, they were nice enough to send me  photocopy of the installaion instructions. They were nearly useless at the time. I did install what I had of the kit. The lower shock mounts were gone, but the upper shock mounts utilized a tab on the strut spacer.

I didnt bother with the shocks at all. My Tracker sees road milage more than offroad... and I couldnt imagine getting beaten up. The rear is so stiff now, it isnt even funny. I dont think I could bottom it out if I got it 3 feet in the air.

different application but a friend of mine had an old chev vega with a 67 vette motor and the front end had coil spring and shock and then a helper spring and shock inside of the main spring maybe this concept can be made....the helper system was from Monroe we never saw this on another Vega and figured was not factory

Maybe you could add airbags inside the coils running at low pressure to make the spings more progressive, your english is good except the last bit about better strength to the wheels can you explain a bit more?
Regards Charlie

The old Procomp 2.5" kit had an additional shock either side at the front. Was very stiff for normal use though. Where's Zig, didn't he have a Procomp for a short time? He needs to post more too  

I have it too, and it does have 2 shocks in the front (or at least should I removed them last week) and as b1pig said it's real stiff.
I'll try to shoot you some more pic's of the mounts this week.
But here's one allready:

Made with my mobile so not the best pic possible but my digicam is broken  .
If you want a bigger shot, leave me a mail or PM  

The strut is the only thing holding the wheel into it's position besides the lower balljoint , so if I can manage to get another shock with same anchoring points as the stock one it will help to hold and give better strenght to the wheel.

The strut is the only thing holding the wheel into it's position besides the lower balljoint , so if I can manage to get another shock with same anchoring points as the stock one it will help to hold and give better strenght to the wheel.

It might just make the strut tower flex a lot more or did you fit a strut brace?

that a pretty good pic for a phone!  is that travel limiting strap part of their kit or did you do that?  would really like to see a pic of the bottom mounting for it

The strap is part of the kit. I wish all the parts woulda been on mine...but it was a junkyard special.

I dont think anything can really replace the strut for strength... or truly help add strength to the strut. The best thing you could do, and keep it simple would be comparing other struts. Maybe finding one with a larger diameter piston rod that could be used? That may not make it ride so much more stiff.

Plus... can any of you honestly attest to damage from bending a strut?

Ok... I'm throwing ideas out......

Ed, maybe you could email me a pic of the lower shock mounts. Just out of curiosity, you know.

ChileKick ...

I luv to hear your rally run a sidekick ... that's so cool.

As rhinoman says, a strut brace _should_ be added ... adding gussets from the strut tower to the frame wouldn't hurt either. Do you really think an extra shock is needed?

Another thing to consider is out back, replace the rear control arm bushing on the rear axle with a "johnny joint". If your really flying, that'll add some stregth to what is just a stock bushing.

I belive that the second shock should be a rebound shock like a 10/90 valving  10% up dampening and 90% down (tire movement) say you come off of a jump with out them your springs will tend to unload on you and throw your rig up in the air and can be dangerouse at speeds over 100 mph. (ask me how I know !) more so for me in the rear of my rig being a rear engine rail.p.s. I have ran koni and kyb adjustable struts, that would be nice if you could find one to fit.

thanks a lot to everyone , this post turned out better than what I expected , lots of great ideas and good advices.  

I can get my hands on some adjustable shocks.

I'm pluging my welder and getting my measuring tape.
Let's see how things turn out I'l keep you posted. Next date for rally is middle june so I'd better hurry.

Thanks again.