The Lumpskie Build - '96 5-speed

Sweet thanks I'll give Toytec a call and see what they can do

 

Thinking about picking up a set of 7100s. Any long term feedback on them?

 

Hey Squeaky,

I've been pretty happy with mine. The length was the main reason I bought them. Back when I got mine, everyone told me that it was IMPOSSIBLE to fit a 12" travel shock in the stock location and there was a good deal of turmoil about it on TTORA. Long story short, I've never had an issue with bottoming them out with my setup. I've also never had an issue with them leaking or breaking down on me. (I saw Timmy's issue) That might be because I don't wheel as hard or as often as Timmy or you do though. For me, the 255/70 valving feels right with 300lbs or more in the bed. If you are going to run less weight, I'd go with a little softer valving. The only other nit pick I have is that the clear coat has peeled off over the years. But, the stainless still looks good. Like I said, overall I'm pretty happy with them.

 

Thanks for the info.

Mentioned this in Timmy's build, but I am intrigued by the 12" short bodies too. Planning on a relocation but want to keep the shocks || for my purposes.

Also, good to know on the valving. I'm sure I've got more weight than you.

 

^Know problem!


Let me know how it all turns out.

 

Wheeled China Wall on Saturday with some friends and ended up blowing out the passenger side end of my steering rack. It looks like the "end cap" of the rack had slowly been unscrewing over the years and, when it was on it's last thread, it popped off. Fixed it on the trail and stole some PS fluid from each of my friends to get me home. Hasn't leaked so far but I think I might get another rack, just to be safe.

 

Wow, glad you made it back ok. When the cap came off, does it just spew fluid, yet still allow armstrong type steering? Or is this something that leaves you with no steering?

 

I have 7100's as well and i love them. I ordered them in error with valving setup for the front end of a mini truck (i don't remember what that is). They have been through two winters so far of sub zero weather and have had no leaking or anything. Great shocks, ill probibly move them to the front when i do an SAS and get some softer valved ones for the rear. I have mine mounted on f-250 shock mounts poked through the bed. I tried them in the stock location and they were way too long, mine are the 12's with 14"s of travel. I must have been buzzed or something when i ordered them LOL.

 

LoL, I've felt that way so many times when I've gotten parts for my truck! I'm glad to hear that yours are holding up too.

Yeah, it just spewed fluid and I "strong armed" the truck to a nice flat spot.

FULL STORY (in case anyone is curious): I was lining up for another try at the rock in the video when my truck made a big "pop" noise and immediately started leaking a lot of fluid. We shut the truck down and inspected it, finding that the passenger side of my steering rack had popped it's "end cap" (don't know the real term) off. Upon closer inspection, it looks like that cap had slowly been unthreading itself and, once there was less than one thread still engaged, popped the cap off. The inner seal had moved outward about an inch as a result of being unrestrained by the cap. Using the combination of an adjustable wrench and a deep socket. I lightly tapped the end cap against the seal to drive it far enough back to engage the threads of the cap. With the cap threaded, I slowly drove the seal back into place, using the threads to draw everything together. So far, no leaks!

 

Are you going to get a new rack? Or run this one and see how it does?

 

Hey Brian,

I'm hoping to run it and see how it does. CVJ quoted me $345 for their reman, with core. I drove it to work this morning without any issue and plan to pull the boot and clean up all the fluid inside tonight.

Do you have any suggestions for me?

 

If it doesn't leak or have any strange play, I'd run it. I'd remove that nut and clean the area very well, assemble it with a thread locking compound. A blue thread locker should work.

 

^That makes me feel better about it. I'll clean it up tonight and hopefully I don't see any fluid over the course of the next week.

 

So far so good on the steering rack. It's clean and doesn't seem to have any real damage. We'll see about leaks at the end of the week.

In other news, I got to see my truck crawl from the outside this past weekend and discovered that my rear suspension is way stiffer than I thought. I think I might remove 1 or 2 leafs from the rear.

My thought is removing the 3rd from the top leaf as it supports almost an identical area as the leafs above and below it. Any suggestions as to which leafs are best to remove vs keep?

FRONT of spring


REAR

 

thats not bad.. I didn't realize CVJ did racks too. How much was the core??

 

I think it was $175.

 

My buddy put together a short video of our weekend and got a few shots of my power steering rack break/fix.

https://youtu.be/EYNkmOv_NE4

 

Cool video and trail fix, thanks for posting that

 

If you're gonna remove a leaf. Remove the one right under the main leaf.

 

^Yeah, that's what i'm thinking. The plan is to remove the first non-military wrapped leaf and then one more farther down the pack. I didn't think I should remove the one below the main, since it wraps around the main's ends and supports the orbit eyes.

Any advice for which farther down leaf to remove?

Thanks man!