So you push your 1st gen offroad - what cracks next?

Thanks Tim. I really appreciate that.

I would like to get back there, I definitely have some unfinished business in CO to work out. We have talked about finishing what we started last year but it likely wont be until the fall, mid-September. Nothing is set though yet.

 

You could still ship them again and I can mock up on my truck if needed.

 

I think the top out forces would be the same given the same spring rate, regardless of the extended length being slightly different.

 

It seems like the Kings with 700 lb coils get the double whammy - the over-weight coil increases the impact at full compression (and possibly doesn't allow the bump stop to do it's job), and the short length combined with no limit straps puts a shock load on the coil bucket at full droop. That back-and-forth fatigue is causing the failure - I like @Rockymtntacoma 's solution to cap the coil bucket, I might add a strap down the back of the bucket towards the engine perch but it would be basically impossible to get to with the motor in.

 

This a big concern I have now.

Yeah, to reach down the back of the bucket all the way to the perch would be a huge challenge. Even the TC gussets may limit how any strapping solution is applied.

 

I noticed a commonality among the posters and wanted to know what you guys think. It appears many of you live near saltwater or are in snow country. What is the probability salt is contributing to your cracks? I haven't noticed any cracks in any of the places as OP except the core support near the wheel wells. I live in Phoenix with an average yearly rainfall of 7"!!!! Any takers on moisture/salt corrosion contributing to cracks? I've had LT front for 3 years with only low to moderate desert time and two months now with full LT. I've run it hard a couple of times now, still no cracks. Hopefully that holds true in the future. I will say this. I love running whoops but rarely if ever jump the truck or stuff the front end. Good thread idea though. Curious to see if I develop any of your cracking issues.

 

Most people in this thread are in the PNW or Colorado area, so a lot of rain and snow but not much salt if any.

I would think the spring rates and valving on an LT kit would mitigate a lot of the damage to the front end components, maybe not if you're getting huge air. At least in @Digiratus 's case, that damage was done over thousands and thousands of trail miles, so you're probably safe for a while yet. As with anything that's used at or near its design limit, the key to preventing catastrophic failure is going to be routine inspection and maintenance.

 

I was thinking more like road salt but if they aren't street driven and only trail rigs that would rule that out.

 

X2. My truck has almost no rust. This is a result of years of frequent offroading and abuse. Not just the occasional weekend trip.

 

I think everyone here drives their trucks to and from the trails, most are not daily drivers though. At least in Washington, they occasionally use mag chloride on the roads but not real road salt like on the east coast.

 

No evidence of rust weakening the metal on mine. Nothing on my new frame (2015) is cracking just the body which leads me to believe it's all about fatigue cycles.

Edit: or something to do with performance coilovers in the front. I'm still on OME

 

I believe all the coils are 14" long, I think the issue is the fully extended length of the Kings. Dan and Mike compared lengths (heh) and the ADS are at least 1/2" longer at full extension.

Really the force exerted by the coil on the coil bucket should be the same for any spring rate, given the same truck going over the same terrain. I think the duration of the force/impact plays a role, similar to the way the stock hockey puck bumpstops feel like hitting a brick wall compared to superbumps or durobumps. They both have the same force applied to them, but the gradual slow down compared to a sudden stop probably reduces the amplitude of the force/time.

 

If the coils were blocking out that would crack the coils. Have seen it on some long travel truck. I don't think that's happening to anyones rig in here.

 

You guys are all overthinking this IMO.

It doesn't matter what color your shocks are, stuff's going to break at some point when we use our trucks like we do.


FWIW, I've cracked my coilbucket with ADS', 650lb coils, limit straps, TC coil bucket gussets, and a top plate on the top.

 

how rusty were your limit straps though?

 

they're engineers. That's their job

 

Preload will have the greatest effect on top-out forces, and spring rate will matter, but much less so.

What do those king coils look like at full compression? How far from bind are they?

 

Thanks for the optimism and the hope for the future.

 

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery

 

These are the import questions.

Spring rate will increase the load force but much less so than preload, especially at extension.