Front struts blown in 1 week!?!

sdeuel · **Posted:** Tue Apr 04, 2006 10:18 pm

So I just had my 2005 Liberty Renegade lifted 2.5" with a Rocky Road budget lift kit. I knew I had to replace the rear shocks so I put Doetsch Tech 3000's back there, but no one said anything about replacing the front struts. So after a week of having it lifted I took it down to MOAB and ran the "Top of the World" trail, which is only rated a 3. On the way home I noticed my front end was bouncing on the highway like an old car with bad shocks. When I got home I realized I could push on the front bumper to make it bounce like a pogo stick! My front struts are blown! The mechanic who put the kit in, the Jeep Dealership, and Rocky Road all say they have never heard of that happening. I didn't hit anything out of the ordinary on the trail, so I have no idea what happened. Has anyone ever heard of this happening?????

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Tue Apr 04, 2006 10:27 pm

RR OTT lift? If so, do a search on here for OTT and you will understand.
If not, I can tell you the stock struts are not all that great and my stockers went crappy after about 4k miles of having the Daystar kit on and wheeling often.

bighause · **Posted:** Tue Apr 04, 2006 11:03 pm

Yeah, I have read many posts about this issue. It seems to ba a common issue with that type of lift.

sqliberty · **Joined:** Sun Mar 19, 2006 3:08 pm **Posts:** 207

Yup, I had it happen to me too. Not that fast though. The OTT/Budget kit went right in the garbage can

bthomas · **Posted:** Tue Apr 04, 2006 11:23 pm

The story sounds familiar to me, for the stock struts. One month in with my new '05, I was in Saline Valley, Death Valley, and took just a few too many of those sneaky foot deep wash out channels at speed, 25 mph. Porpoised home 300 miles, and found this forum and the info content I needed. Really like Frankenlift package.

FL RENNY · **Joined:** Mon Nov 07, 2005 4:30 pm **Posts:** 458

That's really weird, I have read many many posts discussing this problem with the RRO OTT.....I have had mine for 6,000.....and NO problems.......sorry about your strut problem. I hope I'm not next (knock on wood)

KW AV8R · **Posted:** Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:17 am

I had this very problem but with the Daystar lift. In general, the stock struts are not up to dealing with a lift. I had to replace 3 struts in 3 off-roading trips eventhough I never even made it into 4WD. The last strut I broke was on the dirt road leading to where I go 'wheeling and I've been up the same road with a minivan with no problems. I also had my lift installed by a dealership and it wasn't until I changed dealerships did I find out that the lift had been installed incorrectly causing premature strut failure. That said, I still have the stock struts (though I'm about to replace them) and they seem to be lasting, however, I have very limited travel and I have to take it fairly easy to prevent them failing.

RkyMtnKJ · **Posted:** Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:09 pm

What would you say is a good replacement strut for something like this? I have the stockers and they always squeak at a temperature below 50 degrees, i know i just need to grease them but im curious as to substitutes to the stockers

Guyute1210 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:24 pm

RkyMtnKJ wrote:

What would you say is a good replacement strut for something like this? I have the stockers and they always squeak at a temperature below 50 degrees, i know i just need to grease them but im curious as to substitutes to the stockers

Get a set of Rancho RSX's and be done...

Rancho RSX 17505 Front Struts
Rancho RSX 17004 Rear Shocks

Neal · **Posted:** Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:33 pm

and they're lifetime warranty

sqliberty · **Joined:** Sun Mar 19, 2006 3:08 pm **Posts:** 207

FL RENNY wrote:

That's really weird, I have read many many posts discussing this problem with the RRO OTT.....I have had mine for 6,000.....and NO problems.......sorry about your strut problem. I hope I'm not next (knock on wood)

I think I got about 20k driving on road only before the OTT went bad.

LimitedLurker · **Joined:** Fri Jul 08, 2005 7:18 pm **Posts:** 114

RRO playing some games herer? The now "budget kit" used to be the OTT lift and there have been lots of problems with this kit. I've had mine for couple of year and no problems. I also have arb w/ winch so maybe this counters the problem.

When I first read "budget kit" I assumed it was the combo kit which has worked very well for a lot of people.

kicks6000 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 08, 2006 1:53 am

The budget ruins struts. 3rd set and I'm in the middle of swapping my lift for the RockFather right now. Call and they will replace for about $100.

FreedomKJ · **Posted:** Sat Apr 08, 2006 9:13 pm

RkyMtnKJ wrote:

What would you say is a good replacement strut for something like this? I have the stockers and they always squeak at a temperature below 50 degrees, i know i just need to grease them but im curious as to substitutes to the stockers

The squeaking from the front end during cold weather isn't the struts, it's your anti-sway bar bushings. Put a little grease on them or ignore the noise like the rest of us do.

FL RENNY · **Joined:** Mon Nov 07, 2005 4:30 pm **Posts:** 458

UH OH?!!?!?

Ok so I'm wondering if I too now how a blown right strut? Between about 45-60 mph I get a really quick thumping feeling....when I do the test for checking my lower ball joint the strut area seems to make a real loosenoise, almost like there is extra space between full extension and full comression........I took a video of the sounds and everything but I dont know how to post?

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Tue Apr 18, 2006 9:28 am

FreedomKJ wrote:

The squeaking from the front end during cold weather isn't the struts, it's your anti-sway bar bushings. Put a little grease on them or ignore the noise like the rest of us do.

I concurr, my 2005 was squeeking after only a year. I didn't even have to disassemble anything, I just crawled under there with a can of silicon spray with the plastic straw and sprayed the bushings real good, they shut right up.

sdeuel · **Posted:** Wed Apr 19, 2006 12:05 am

So after being in contact with Rocky Road, the owner swears up and down that the stock struts that Jeep puts on in the first place, are pretty much crap unless you're going to the grocery store. I was wheeling with the Liberty many times before I put the lift on, and was driving it pretty hard with no problems with the struts. The trail I ran after I put the struts on wasn't much harder than the other trails, but it did require a bit more flexing than usual. I went up and over a bunch of ledges about 12-15 inches high. So, I'm not taking any chances so I'm going to take this OTT lift of immediately for the Rock Father kit. I'll be putting the Old Man Emu struts, springs, and some strut spacers in there. I'm hoping this works better.

Any one have much experience with Old Man Emu stuff?

mississippimudkj · **Posted:** Wed Apr 19, 2006 9:48 am

Rought country is what i just got and the place i got my lift put on said thats the only company they use on their trucks.. so far its been great.. but its only been 300 miles!!

mike

Front struts blown in 1 week!?!

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