Yup
NOLAKJ called me and said that he was "having some strange issues with his KJ"
he thought it may be due to the sag from the Rustys coils
it would wobble and pull at highway speed but it would come and go if he hit bumps
kinda like death wobble on a SFA jeep
our plan was a clevis lift
when we tried to pull the clevis fork the spring shot off with the strut and the upper plate stayed on the jeep
after a bunch of pulling and fighting we got the parts out
looks like the bolt and nut on the strut pulled through the bushing on the plate

Now my issue is
Has this ever happened to any one else?
could it be that the nut was to tight on the strut and over compressed the bushing
is it very random
could it start happening to folks who wheel their KJ's

My advice to any person who is planing to lift or work on the suspension of their KJ
either do it your self and KNOW what you are getting into
or bring it to a VERY good mechanic that you TRUST
I have a feeling that this is due to improper installation of the struts
because it looks like it has been bad for a while

It probably will not be common at all. Fist Ive heard of it.

_________________
LOST KJ'S
Where are you going???
Current Jeep: 2004 Jeep Liberty
-Atlantic Blue
-Air Ride Rear Suspension ; OME/Rustys Lift ; Powertrax Locker ; Moog Lower Ball-Joints ; 245/70/16 Yokohama Geolander A/T-S's on MOABS ; Flowmaster 50 SUV
Lost #007082
http://www.cardomain.com/id/jeepjeepster

Sounds like someone forgot that washer between the strut plate and strut nut and/or a inproperly torqued strut nut.When not torqued correctly it can walo out the hole and pull through.

how big is said washer?
how much torque does it need?

The washers on mine are about 1 1/4" in diameter,and the torque I believe is 30-35 lbs-ft.

yeah well that would explain it
he had only some little washer about the same size as the nut if any at all
and I know that they was more than 30 lbs-ft on them we almost needed the air impact to get it off

I may tell him to just order 2 new plates now
we are going wheelin tomorrow and he is now riding shot gun so I will be passing on the info

This happened to me. None of the above causes were to blame. I believe that my upper ball joint was the cause. I started with some vibrations and then the strut bolt striped off. This was of course over a little time. As I thought at first my alignment or tire balance was off. Just my 2 cents.. good luck & happy wheeling......

_________________
IceColeNH #JC060619
03' Renegade
Al's Arms.
3 inch lift; Rusty's springs all around, Rancho struts + 4 electrical conduit washers up front. Old Man Emu in rear.
Moog K3199 in the lowers
General Grabber AT2 - 245 75 16 "load E on a mawl crawler? You don't need those." tire dealer.
K&N Filter
Silverstar Ultras

WEIRD.....my strut plate has the washer molded into the rubber...

_________________
2003 Jeep LIberty Renegade
Rusty's Offroad 2.5in suspension lift w/ rear rancho shocks, Fastman TB, Beam's 4 point harness', custom D rings up front, Custom flowmaster exhaust, JKS Quick sway bar disco's
Hella 500's, General Grabber AT2's on stock rims with spidertrax
coming soon: Corbeau Moab seats, JBA 6"lift

What kind of strutt plate is that? that doesn't make any sense and sounds very dangerous to me.

In the process of having my struts assembled prior to installing my lift last weekend, the guy compressing the springs for me asked me where the washer was. I said I didn't get one from Old man emu so I gues i don't have it or need it, he said never would have thought that.

In removing my stock struts I saw the washer in question. THICK almost 3/16 x 1 1/4 inch in diameter "Fender Washer between the strut mount and the strut bolt. I imediately took the assembled OME struts and the OEM struts to the guy who assembled them for me and said HEY you were right. He tore them all down for me and used the OEM washers on my Old man emu struts.

Old Man Emu Struts DO NOT COME WITH ALL OF TH NEEDED HARDWARE. Cheap little 2.15 part.

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=getJointLocator&siteid=214583&Sectionids=0,2512&groupid=2523&subgroupid=2534&componentid=2531&make=17&model=Liberty&year=2007&graphicID=WD02255&callout=20&catalogid=2&displayCatalogid=0

I am glad he asked about it.

Moral(s) to the story:

1. Use a guy (mechanic) who wheels and KNOWS what he is doing.
2. YOU look at the scematics of the OEM struts, study them and understand the assembly and proceedure for installing and building them.
3. DO NOT ASSUME the work is done correctly, even if you do it your self. Profeesionally trained mechanics screw up, why can't you?
4. ASK questions prior to doing anything and learn as much as you can before.

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'07 Ltd 3.7L, Black, OME HD's, OME shocks, Mopar Skids, AEV Bridgers w/ TPMS, Kumho KL78's, ARB Bumper, KC 130 Watters, Warn M8000 Winch, Rock Lizard Gecko Roof Basket KC 150 watters, Cobra 75WSX, 3 ft FireFly, RL Super Step Skinks