Blown shocks on lifted KJ

Art M. · **Joined:** Fri Jun 23, 2006 1:32 pm **Posts:** 8

Hi all
I have a Liberty lifted with the Rocky Road budget lift kit, it is an OTT, the problem I am having is that my front shocks (struts) are going bad in less than a month, I already had them replace twice under warranty but the shop said they will not do it again. The shocks are bad again, I had them under 30 days. I believe that due to the OTT lift the upper A-arm is not hitting the bump stop, instead is compresing the shock all the way using it as a bump stop and causing it to fail. Has anyone else has a similar experience?
As a fix I am thinking of getting bigger bumpstops, I believe Sky Jacker has them on their lift ( I have yet to confirm this), the other options is having some custom made. If anyone has experience with this or any ideas any input will be greatly appreciated.
Art

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Fri Jun 23, 2006 1:56 pm

If you do a search on OTT you'll find they have been throughly criticized for causing problems - commonly killing the front struts. The general recommendation is to get a better lift (I've got Daystar - no problems)

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:19 pm

Ditch that OTT and get:

No one runs that lift for long. Once they have a problem, they find us, and then find out that that lift causes nothing but problems. Get it off your KJ ASAP.

Art M. · **Joined:** Fri Jun 23, 2006 1:32 pm **Posts:** 8

I just got reading several posts regarding the OTT, I searched other terms looking for info before I posted, just never occur to me searching under OTT. I will see about purchasing a different lift kit, thanks for your help.
Art.

KJ04 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 23, 2006 5:29 pm

Wow! Struts gone in uder 30 days with an OTT, that's gotta be a record.

Art M. · **Joined:** Fri Jun 23, 2006 1:32 pm **Posts:** 8

The struts began to go out 15 days after they were on the KJ, and 21 days for them to go complete out, it is a record I am not proud to hold, but I wonder if there are any takers on the crown.
Art

Joe Jeeper · **Posted:** Tue Jun 27, 2006 7:39 pm

I have my original struts with 38K on them with 4wd hardware suspension lift! Joe

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

Art M. how did you know your struts were blown? I've had the OTT for about 12k miles and I'm thinking mine might be blown too...it's riding pretty crappy........how to test?

Sport · **Posted:** Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:05 am

You are going to need longer bump stops. Energy Suspension makes a set but you have to do some modifying to make it work. There is a write up on it somewhere I think in the Fabrication section, good write up too. I would also think about getting better struts.

Found the write up...

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/vie ... php?t=5379

Or you can always upgrade...

Art M. · **Joined:** Fri Jun 23, 2006 1:32 pm **Posts:** 8

Sport wrote:

You are going to need longer bump stops. Energy Suspension makes a set but you have to do some modifying to make it work. There is a write up on it somewhere I think in the Fabrication section, good write up too. I would also think about getting better struts.

Found the write up...

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/vie ... php?t=5379

Or you can always upgrade...

Thanks, I saw the write up and ordered those bump stops last week, I posted asking the guy how the solution is working out after six months but there hasn't been a reply. As far as the struts I’m going with rancho this time.
Regards
Art

Art M. · **Joined:** Fri Jun 23, 2006 1:32 pm **Posts:** 8

FL RENNY wrote:

Art M. how did you know your struts were blown? I've had the OTT for about 12k miles and I'm thinking mine might be blown too...it's riding pretty crappy........how to test?

I was getting what can be described as a "boat effect" going down the highway on wavy surfaces I would get an up and down rocking motion, also after going over a speed bump I would slam on the brakes and the KJ would bounce up and down a couple of times.
Art

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

Ok I'll give that a try, I'm guessing the KJ should not bounce after going over a speed bump and slamming the breaks? And did you slam the breaks after the front wheels went over....or after both rear and front wheels went over?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Jun 28, 2006 2:47 pm

Here is a fast easy test for testing struts and shocks,with the vehicle stationary push down on the corner you want to test hard a few times to get your KJ bouncing then let off,it should stop bouncing almost instantly(a little after bounce is okay,but not alot).If it keeps bouncing for like a second or two your struts or shocks are most likely shot.

Art M. · **Joined:** Fri Jun 23, 2006 1:32 pm **Posts:** 8

FL RENNY wrote:

Ok I'll give that a try, I'm guessing the KJ should not bounce after going over a speed bump and slamming the breaks? And did you slam the breaks after the front wheels went over....or after both rear and front wheels went over?

Right after the front wheels go over, when the front suspension is compressing from going over the bump that's when you do it, and no it shouldn't bounce more than once at the most.
Art

Art M. · **Joined:** Fri Jun 23, 2006 1:32 pm **Posts:** 8

tjkj2002 wrote:

Here is a fast easy test for testing struts and shocks,with the vehicle stationary push down on the corner you want to test hard a few times to get your KJ bouncing then let off,it should stop bouncing almost instantly(a little after bounce is okay,but not alot).If it keeps bouncing for like a second or two your struts or shocks are most likely shot.

I tried that and it did not work (at least in the KJ, it has worked on any other car I done it) Even with the struts completely gone it would only bounce once and come to rest immediately. I guess the suspension is a bit stiff to do this, at least on my case. But this is definitely the traditional way I know of to test shocks or struts.
Art

Blown shocks on lifted KJ

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