Rusty's 3/4" Front Spacer - Top or Bottom?

AdirondacKJ · **Posted:** Mon Oct 23, 2006 7:54 pm

I recently had Rusty's 3/4" front spacers installed on my '05 KJ (with PRE-LOWERED springs... yes, I ordered them specially) along with new Rancho RSX struts. The website says to install the spacers BELOW the front coils, and I recommended this to my friend who installed them for me. When he finished, he told me it only made sense for them to be installed ABOVE the front coils. Is it okay for these 3/4" spacers to be ABOVE the front coils? Will I experience any of the OTT problems I've heard of? Any information would be great... thanks.

raceinfan · **Posted:** Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:11 pm

it belongs on the BOTTOM :!:

I wouldn't chance it, have it changed

AdirondacKJ · **Posted:** Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:18 pm

raceinfan wrote:

it belongs on the BOTTOM :!:

I wouldn't chance it, have it changed

That's what I thought (and that's why I had asked you) but this guy is no slouch. He's been a mechanic for both Jaguar and Land Rover... basically, he knows his stuff. Would it really make that much of a difference? Should I really go back and have it switched?

raceinfan · **Posted:** Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:36 pm

I personaly would,I had Jeep install mine & they know how to do it correctly plus I brought them a picture just incase but it does go on the bottom

AdirondacKJ · **Posted:** Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:22 pm

raceinfan wrote:

I personaly would,I had Jeep install mine & they know how to do it correctly plus I brought them a picture just incase but it does go on the bottom

Until I can get it in to be fixed, which may not be for a few weeks, do you think I'll be alright driving it around like this? I really have no choice...

Big D · **Joined:** Mon Jun 05, 2006 10:08 pm **Posts:** 349

Old school mechanics tend to think that these spacers act almost like spring isolators, hence their tendency to put it on top. Frankly, I don't understand what the difference could be if technically it's irrelavent where it goes. The only thing I can think of is that you'll loose some height as the spring isolator has to be taken out.

How much height does it gain for you?

AdirondacKJ · **Posted:** Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:25 pm

Big D wrote:

Old school mechanics tend to think that these spacers act almost like spring isolators, hence their tendency to put it on top. Frankly, I don't understand what the difference could be if technically it's irrelavent where it goes. The only thing I can think of is that you'll loose some height as the spring isolator has to be taken out.

How much height does it gain for you?

Well, since I changed to pre-lowered springs at the same time, the whole setup gave me just short of an inch and a half... which was what I was looking for. Now I'm just worried it'll affect the geometry of the spring or ruin my struts or something...

AdirondacKJ · **Posted:** Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:44 pm

Okay... I've been thinking... I've seen other spacers that go above the front springs (such as RevTek). Big D has a point about the old school mechanics, I bet that's what happened. If that 3/4" spacer sits level up there against the underside of the top of the strut assembly, THEORETICALLY, it should be fine, right? I would really like to avoid issues with this guy but if need be, I'll have to get it fixed. Any and all opinions are welcome...

jason thompson · **Posted:** Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:55 pm

I dont see how it would make a diff
it is doing the same thing top or bottom the spring is shaped the same ,no top or bottom, so the mounting point will not matter
if it were not a strut then it would have to go on top but being that the spring/spacer can not fall out and space is space I say leave it

AdirondacKJ · **Posted:** Mon Oct 23, 2006 10:04 pm

jason thompson wrote:

I dont see how it would make a diff
it is doing the same thing top or bottom the spring is shaped the same ,no top or bottom, so the mounting point will not matter
if it were not a strut then it would have to go on top but being that the spring/spacer can not fall out and space is space I say leave it

You have an opinion... it is yours and I like it

For anyone familiar with the strut assembly itself, would the spacer sit differently on top than on the bottom? Is the base on which the spacer is sitting (that is, the top of the bottom plate vs. the bottom of the top plate) designed differently between the top and bottom?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Oct 23, 2006 10:26 pm

Its shouldnt matter if its above or below the spring. :wink:

Everyone Ive ever seen is on the bottom though.

Big D · **Joined:** Mon Jun 05, 2006 10:08 pm **Posts:** 349

I have to agree with Jason Thomson. If it rides ok, I would leave it as is. Since it is a strut, it does nothing other than preload the spring more. Personnaly, I think it makes more sense on top as it does act a little as a buffer.

Just curios, now that you mentioned that you changed the springs at the same time, could it be that the mechanic put them in upside down. But frankly, it should not make it any differecence as long as the spring isolators fit. The front springs do not have any variable rate to them because of the weight of the engine. The back ones do. This way the Jeep rides could both empty and loaded. Always a compromise though.

Anyway my 2 cents worth.

Universeman · **Posted:** Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:47 am

I have the same spacers on my jeep and yes they are on the bottom but I say leave it on top there is no way it could affect the functionality of the strut the weight of the vehicle is still being transfered through the spacer to the spring(which it does if its on the bottom or the top) plus a spacer lift is in no way similer to the OTT style lift they are two compleatly different animals you have nothing to worry about IMO.

AdirondacKJ · **Posted:** Tue Oct 24, 2006 1:18 pm

The 3/4" spacer is used in place of the upper coil isolator (the upper isolator was removed). Does the spacer sit evenly against the spot where the upper spring isolator usually sits?

jason thompson · **Posted:** Tue Oct 24, 2006 6:14 pm

AdirondacKJ wrote:

The 3/4" spacer is used in place of the upper coil isolator (the upper isolator was removed). Does the spacer sit evenly against the spot where the upper spring isolator usually sits?

I would say that if you took the upper isolator out then you are going to have to leave it up top like it or not
no spring pad=bad noise

AdirondacKJ · **Posted:** Tue Oct 24, 2006 10:29 pm

jason thompson wrote:

AdirondacKJ wrote:

The 3/4" spacer is used in place of the upper coil isolator (the upper isolator was removed). Does the spacer sit evenly against the spot where the upper spring isolator usually sits?

I would say that if you took the upper isolator out then you are going to have to leave it up top like it or not
no spring pad=bad noise

Well the spacer is now acting as the spring pad. I don't detect any noises yet... will I still have a noise even with the spacer in its place?

jason thompson · **Posted:** Tue Oct 24, 2006 11:19 pm

AdirondacKJ wrote:

jason thompson wrote:

AdirondacKJ wrote:

The 3/4" spacer is used in place of the upper coil isolator (the upper isolator was removed). Does the spacer sit evenly against the spot where the upper spring isolator usually sits?

I would say that if you took the upper isolator out then you are going to have to leave it up top like it or not
no spring pad=bad noise

Well the spacer is now acting as the spring pad. I don't detect any noises yet... will I still have a noise even with the spacer in its place?

If its a polly spacer and not rubber then yes it will squeek
I have never seen a poly any thing that did not squeek
You can get this grease in a spray can that will help and should be ok to use with /on poly

the1jferg · **Posted:** Wed Oct 25, 2006 5:46 pm

The puc goes on the bottom, Even though I have a 4x2 with prelow springs, I've pounded the HELLL outta my rig and never caused a problem.

kj@best · **Posted:** Wed Oct 25, 2006 6:41 pm

Is it look like a huge washer? Or is there a notch in it?

raceinfan · **Posted:** Wed Oct 25, 2006 6:43 pm

notch for the spring to sit in it properly

Rusty's 3/4" Front Spacer - Top or Bottom?

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