4x4kayak2112 wrote:
An Adjustable coil over or OME strut is the same length as a stock strut and both act as a limit strap, In doing that the stock strut or Adjustable will not allow the front Suspension to drop fare enough to allow the ball joint to hit the strut spring. So with an Adjustable coil over no matter how high you try to raise the front, You will get a stiff ride and add a little stress to the ball joints but they will never have an interference fit between strut and ball join. Just the length of the strut will not allow it.
You get the same effect with inside coil spring lifts, You get a stiff ride but the strut still acts as a limit strap.
On the other hand when you install a 3" spacer lift to the top of a strut you increase the up and down travel of the strut by the thickness of the spacer. And although the 3" top mount spacer is only 1 1/2" thick, That is to much and your strut can no longer act as a limit strap and the up down movement is to much so the upper ball joint hits the coil spring. I don't think you would go out to your truck and beat on the ball joint with a hammer would you? Well that is what is happing every time you just drive over a speed bump with top mount spacers.
Here is something you can try to prove it to your self.
Take a stock KJ park on flat ground,
Block the rear tires so it wont roll, Take a floor jack and raise the front off the ground, Take a look at the upper ball joints, ( No problem )
The strut did it's job and stopped the down travel before anything hit the ball joint, Now take a KJ with an adjustable coil over and try the same thing ( No Problem ) The strut did it's job.
Now do the same thing with a Jeep that has a so called 3" top mount spacer lift. ( Big problem ) The upper ball joint starts hitting the strut coil spring before the truck is off the ground. I wont get into the damage that is being caused to the front axels and CV joints. If don't understand the above just try What I recommended and you will see for your self. I know I was surprised when the Mechanic at my front end shop showed me. If you want a safer but stiff ride stay with the Adjustable coil overs or
the inside coil spring spacers and let your struts do there job.
You will be very sorry If I’m right ( Which I am ) and some one gets hurt or worse.
You get the same effect with inside coil spring lifts, You get a stiff ride but the strut still acts as a limit strap.
On the other hand when you install a 3" spacer lift to the top of a strut you increase the up and down travel of the strut by the thickness of the spacer. And although the 3" top mount spacer is only 1 1/2" thick, That is to much and your strut can no longer act as a limit strap and the up down movement is to much so the upper ball joint hits the coil spring. I don't think you would go out to your truck and beat on the ball joint with a hammer would you? Well that is what is happing every time you just drive over a speed bump with top mount spacers.
Here is something you can try to prove it to your self.
Take a stock KJ park on flat ground,
Block the rear tires so it wont roll, Take a floor jack and raise the front off the ground, Take a look at the upper ball joints, ( No problem )
The strut did it's job and stopped the down travel before anything hit the ball joint, Now take a KJ with an adjustable coil over and try the same thing ( No Problem ) The strut did it's job.
Now do the same thing with a Jeep that has a so called 3" top mount spacer lift. ( Big problem ) The upper ball joint starts hitting the strut coil spring before the truck is off the ground. I wont get into the damage that is being caused to the front axels and CV joints. If don't understand the above just try What I recommended and you will see for your self. I know I was surprised when the Mechanic at my front end shop showed me. If you want a safer but stiff ride stay with the Adjustable coil overs or
the inside coil spring spacers and let your struts do there job.
You will be very sorry If I’m right ( Which I am ) and some one gets hurt or worse.
^^^^^^
This
Its how I come to buy a $1000 bumper for 1/5 the price. They used a spacer lift, after replacing a few front shocks , 3 UCAs they gave up thinking there was no way to safely lift a KJ. They told me I would be sorry for lifting mine, 190,000 lifted miles later I'm still good
