I keep breaking shocks?

[Mikey0211]

Hey guys..

Just got back from the springs 4x4 park today.. and although i had a great time. I broke the top eye of a rear shock..

Now this is the third shock that has broken on me:confused:

A few months ago i snapped both eyes of both rear shocks.. (can't remember the brand)

so i put a set of pro comp es9000 on the rear and now its happened again..

the shocks are only a couple of months old and are still in good working order, so i can't see how i can be getting enough shock load on the eye at full extension to bust the eye off..???

They are 4" longer than standard, and i'm running 2" raised rear coils..

Any help would be appreciated as i don't wanna fork out on new shocks untill i know why it is doing this...

Cheers guys.

Mikey

[justinc]

Hey guys..

Just got back from the springs 4x4 park today.. and although i had a great time. I broke the top eye of a rear shock..

Now this is the third shock that has broken on me:confused:

A few months ago i snapped both eyes of both rear shocks.. (can't remember the brand)

so i put a set of pro comp es9000 on the rear and now its happened again..

the shocks are only a couple of months old and are still in good working order, so i can't see how i can be getting enough shock load on the eye at full extension to bust the eye off..???

They are 4" longer than standard, and i'm running 2" raised rear coils..
Any help would be appreciated as i don't wanna fork out on new shocks untill i know why it is doing this...

Cheers guys.

Mikey

Mikey,

4" longer minus 2" leaves 2" of compression unaccounted for. It is possible they are bottoming out NOT topping out?
Also, the top mounting rubbers etc need to be reasonably pliable, any chance of some pics?

JC

[discowhite]

ive got masses of flex and run procomps...it aint the procomps at fault.

cheers phil

[TD5_Fender]

I know this has nothing to do with your problem but what do you think of the springs . Me and a few mates are thinking of going out there soon but it is a bit of drive for me if it is no better than landcruiser park...

Cheers Shane

[discowhite]

mikey, whats the part number on the shock body? if they are 9000's it will be 924XXX if there 3000's it will be 324XXX.

if they are too long at full extention the top eye bushes will bind and snap the eye off!
the older procomps had a smaller eye bush that allowed for more freedom. i have 14'' stroke on the rear of the ute (thats 5 1/2'' longer than std) with the smaller bushes and they are fine.

cheers phil

[defmec]

if your still using the original top mount that will be your prob

[discowhite]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/541.jpg

this shock is 11'' stroke and its binding on the rear washer and the front washer, anymore extention and SNAP. this is why i converted my rears to pin/pin. ide say this is the issue you have.

cheers phil

[justinc]

http://inlinethumb05.webshots.com/20548/2263480350100509853S600x600Q85.jpg

this shock is 11'' stroke and its binding on the rear washer and the front washer, anymore extention and SNAP. this is why i converted my rears to pin/pin. ide say this is the issue you have.

cheers phil

Great pic Phil, thanks! That is what I meant also by binding/ bottoming. At full compression this can be the result too:(

JC

[Mikey0211]

cheers for the comments guys...

I did measure them up properly before i got em and the bump stop hits well before the shock tops out..

But it does look possible that there could be too much side force on the eye when under full droop...

[PAT303]

If the shock was turned 90 degrees so the pin pointed forward the problem would be fixed. Pat

[biggerlandy]

have you got standard bump stops on if so that is your problem you need poly longer bump stops on

[discowhite]

If the shock was turned 90 degrees so the pin pointed forward the problem would be fixed. Pat

i made new rear shock mounts to solve the problem
http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/43383/2470667140100509853S600x600Q85.jpg

cheers phil

[discowhite]

have you got standard bump stops on if so that is your problem you need poly longer bump stops on

dont agree totally, ive been running round for 3 years with extended bump's that still need 2'' more b4 they touch the diff. the angle of the OE rear shock mount is in favour of compression not extention.
i think you would have to be going really hard and fast to snap an eye off on compression.

http://inlinethumb07.webshots.com/42502/2737609160100509853S600x600Q85.jpg
the front mount is one ive modified, its horizontal, the rear is an OE one. the day i tested the modified ones i drove home with out the rear shocks, broke the eye off one and bent the other.

cheers phil

[BigJon]

i think you would have to be going really hard and fast to snap an eye off on compression.



I had lowered shock mounts on for a little while (same end result as longer shocks).

While I didn't break an eye off, I did snap two shock shafts. Both times at very low speeds (low range 1st gear) while under full suspension compression.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

I've had this problem too (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/technical-chatter/42078-do-defenders-normally-break-rear-shockies.html).

I've fitted Bilsteins now and I've left the top mount on the loose side. I haven't broken one since but I'm not convinced it's solved.

While we were in WA we met a guy with a Disco who had broken two and was ordering more in!

[cal415]

i broke one of mine too, it was a brand new procomp, but apparently they were having issues with the welds in that batch, they were large eye versions using a pin to eye convertor on the bottom, it was the bottom mount that broke. I exchanged them for a newer batch of small eye shocks, havnt had a problem since, it seems to big eye version dont handle the larger angles very well.

[mark2]

i broke one of mine too, it was a brand new procomp, but apparently they were having issues with the welds in that batch, they were large eye versions using a pin to eye convertor on the bottom, it was the bottom mount that broke. I exchanged them for a newer batch of small eye shocks, havnt had a problem since, it seems to big eye version dont handle the larger angles very well.

Interesting. - I've always gone for a larger eye on the top on the basis that the larger rubber bush can better absorb the movement before stress is transferred to the eye.

[cal415]

maybe so, but the smaller eye is narrower in the steel ring so less chance of binding at big side angles.

[Wortho]

larger rubber bush can better absorb the movement before stress is transferred to the eye.but the smaller eye is narrower in the steel ring so less chance of binding at big side angles.

And i will bend like the reed in the wind, for no one has Kung Fu like my Kung Fu.