The $100 lift

touche

 

Limit straps are used when the standard shock length exceeds the misalignment capabilities of the ball joints, tie rod, or CV/U-joint. Take a look at most limit strap attachment points - they are usually weaker than the shock. The front LT kits that include limit straps (TC, Camburg, etc.) tend to use the standard 8" coilovers rather than putting a internal stop in the shock body to limit travel.

Looks like this shock was overcompressed or seized internally. The shaft failed in bending (buckling), not tensile overload. Otherwise it would fail at the piston attachment point, where the machining features make the shaft the weakest.

On coil-spring rear suspensions it is very common for the shock to be the droop limiter. In fact, when removing the shock from some vehicles at full droop, the spring still has preload - you have to put a jack under the rear axle or hub, remove the shock, then slowly lower the jack for safety (i.e. similar in principle to disassembling a front coilover in-situ).

 

I did an experiment with a 1" spacer on a stock Bilstein shock without the coil and determined that there is still a bit of shaft left even with a 1" spacer. You might be pushing it with your spacer, but it shouldn't need much to prevent the shock from becoming the bump.

The zip tie was used to show where the shock fully compressed to. I measured right at 1/2" of shaft left with the 1" spacer installed.

 

Some factory designs do incorporate a a bumpstop/limiter in the shock design. It maybe likely that is not part of the Fox design- maybe it allows for maximum travel in a given package to not have that feature.

 

Great post. Nice to see a a guy put some thought and a bit of real world testing into a budget minded Suspension mod.

 

Appreciate you adding those images- great information since my spacer is 3/8 thicker than the one you used, underscores the value of getting a properly spaced bump stop with this set-up.

 

The 8" coilover is actually too long for the Taco's front (the CV will bind). That's why most bolt-on LT kits use straps to limit shock extended length to less than 8". All-Pro's old style kit used to be offered with a custom coilover that had less travel, so they were able to avoid straps.

 

I had an '85 S10 Blazer that I swapped the rear spring pack out for a mono leaf at 100k to bring it down in line with the 2" drop spindles up front.

Unlike Tacoma springs at much lower mileage, they were just fine. I used part of them to beef up a utility trailer and gave the rest to a friend for knife making.

 

^Did your friend use lawn mower blades before?

 

Don't really care one way or the other, but I am interested to see how this turns out.

OP, keep us updated, and thanks for sharing this with us!

 

Why yes. Yes he did.

 

Failed in pulling apart. I never took pics of it and that was almost 6 years ago. But the shaft was stretched and showed signs of it.

 

So a, what, 3/8" dia hardened steel shaft failed in tension?

 

Yeah these S-10's aint gonna last.....

Not if a little knowledge and resource digging is used, I've done springs for some members LT's & they are still holding ARC & performing great...

 

Yeah Brockster, back from the dead haha

 

undead