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  #1  
Old 10-20-2011, 05:29 PM
asoces asoces is offline
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Default Will this damage my suspension?

I installed coil spacers that lifted my front end 2 1/2 inches or so, and the truck rode like it had solid metal rods for shocks.

I added a 3/4 inch pile of washers to the top of the shocks to make the resting position closer to the factory 'comfort zone'.

This will obviously allow extra suspension droop... 3/4 inch at the shock mount point, which will be about 1 1/2 inches at the wheel (I think).

Could this extra droop damage anything?
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  #2  
Old 10-20-2011, 05:49 PM
doyouquaxu doyouquaxu is offline
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Default Re: Will this damage my suspension?

your ball joints. they can only move so far before they reach their limit. causing them to try and go past their limit too much will result in a ball joint ripping out of it's little pocket, similar to a dislocated shoulder
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  #3  
Old 10-20-2011, 05:52 PM
pooleo pooleo is offline
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Default Re: Will this damage my suspension?

I bet your shocks are ready to blow because they are extended all the way out and actually holding up the control arm. Try un-bolting the shock and see if it ride better.

The math dont add up. 2.5" of lift. .75" of extension on the shock. Seems to me, you would want 2.5" of extension on the shocks
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  #4  
Old 10-20-2011, 06:04 PM
asoces asoces is offline
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Default Re: Will this damage my suspension?

The shocks are connected near halfway along the lower control arm, so the wheel will move up and down more inches than the shock will. Hope that makes sense... I'm tired.

The main problem with the ride quality was that the shocks were very hard to compress, but when they did compress (big speed bump), they would feel 'normal' until the suspension returned to rest, then it'd be hard as a rock again.

----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by doyouquaxu View Post
your ball joints. they can only move so far before they reach their limit. causing them to try and go past their limit too much will result in a ball joint ripping out of it's little pocket, similar to a dislocated shoulder
Yes, it's something like that I'm concerned about. Trying to figure out how much room I have to play with before catastrophe!
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2010 Mazda B2300 - Reg cab - Rear slider - 2.3L - 4X2 - 5sp Auto - 4 wheel discs - 4.10's - Traction/stability control - Class III hitch

Upgrades/Mods: 225/75 R15 Dunlop RVXTs, Daystar leveling kit, Mazda hood deflector, Trail FX bed liner, Extang Trifecta tonneau cover, Pop & Lock tailgate lock, locking gas cap, WeatherTech FloorLiners, 5% rear/30% side window tint, dual horns, Krown rustproofing.

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  #5  
Old 10-20-2011, 06:11 PM
doyouquaxu doyouquaxu is offline
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Default Re: Will this damage my suspension?

you could get longer shocks.
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  #6  
Old 10-20-2011, 06:14 PM
asoces asoces is offline
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Default Re: Will this damage my suspension?

Quote:
Originally Posted by doyouquaxu View Post
you could get longer shocks.
Wouldn't longer shocks cause the problem you mentioned above? By placing the washers on the top of the shocks (against the underside of the shock mount), I have essentially lengthened my shocks by 3/4 of an inch.
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Upgrades/Mods: 225/75 R15 Dunlop RVXTs, Daystar leveling kit, Mazda hood deflector, Trail FX bed liner, Extang Trifecta tonneau cover, Pop & Lock tailgate lock, locking gas cap, WeatherTech FloorLiners, 5% rear/30% side window tint, dual horns, Krown rustproofing.

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  #7  
Old 10-20-2011, 06:16 PM
doyouquaxu doyouquaxu is offline
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Default Re: Will this damage my suspension?

well it's either get longer shocks and have a better ride, or keep the ones you've got now and risk literally blowing them into two pieces one day. the first option is the better one, trust me on this. if you get shocks that are 1-1.5" longer you shouldn't have any problems
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  #8  
Old 10-20-2011, 06:18 PM
pooleo pooleo is offline
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Default Re: Will this damage my suspension?

Quote:
Originally Posted by asoces View Post
I have essentially lengthened my shocks by 3/4 of an inch.
but you lifted your truck by 2.5"
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Quote:
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  #9  
Old 10-20-2011, 06:21 PM
doyouquaxu doyouquaxu is offline
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Default Re: Will this damage my suspension?

Quote:
Originally Posted by pooleo View Post
but you lifted your truck by 2.5"
its because of how the coil is mounted. coils/shocks are like 1/2 way out on the lower control arm. they move a lot less than the wheel can move in its suspension travel.
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  #10  
Old 10-20-2011, 07:07 PM
cdawall cdawall is offline
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Default Re: Will this damage my suspension?

Get new stock shocks. The current shocks should be long enough to handle the a arms at full droop you didn't drop the a arms you just put them further down in the range of travel.
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  #11  
Old 10-20-2011, 07:10 PM
asoces asoces is offline
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Default Re: Will this damage my suspension?

Quote:
Originally Posted by doyouquaxu View Post
well it's either get longer shocks and have a better ride, or keep the ones you've got now and risk literally blowing them into two pieces one day. the first option is the better one, trust me on this. if you get shocks that are 1-1.5" longer you shouldn't have any problems
OK - thanks.

Hmmm... So that will allow my front wheels an additional 2 inches or more of downward travel - I'm sure that will help the ride quality quite a bit as well.
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2010 Mazda B2300 - Reg cab - Rear slider - 2.3L - 4X2 - 5sp Auto - 4 wheel discs - 4.10's - Traction/stability control - Class III hitch

Upgrades/Mods: 225/75 R15 Dunlop RVXTs, Daystar leveling kit, Mazda hood deflector, Trail FX bed liner, Extang Trifecta tonneau cover, Pop & Lock tailgate lock, locking gas cap, WeatherTech FloorLiners, 5% rear/30% side window tint, dual horns, Krown rustproofing.

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Last edited by asoces; 10-20-2011 at 07:14 PM.
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  #12  
Old 10-20-2011, 07:10 PM
pooleo pooleo is offline
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Default Re: Will this damage my suspension?

It obvious the shocks are not long enough. He said it feels like there are steel rods for shocks. Jack the truck up, unbolt the shock at the top, if the A-arm drops, the shock is too short.
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1999 | Ext. Cab | 4.0 | 4x4 | 4.10's
Quote:
A Gladiator does not fear death. He embraces it. Caresses it. Fucks it. Each time he enters the arena, he slips his c0ck in the mouth of the beast, and prays to thrust home before the jaws snap shut. - Oenomaus
Ball Joints/Upper A-Arms How To
Replace Door pin/bushing
Repair broken dome light tabs
VIDEO OHC Install
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  #13  
Old 10-20-2011, 07:13 PM
cdawall cdawall is offline
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Default Re: Will this damage my suspension?

Quote:
Originally Posted by pooleo View Post
It obvious the shocks are not long enough. He said it feels like there are steel rods for shocks. Jack the truck up, unbolt the shock at the top, if the A-arm drops, the shock is too short.
Or they are just the stock shocks on a shoddly lifted truck and it rides like shit because it needs a proper lift to function properly.
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  #14  
Old 10-20-2011, 07:15 PM
doyouquaxu doyouquaxu is offline
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Default Re: Will this damage my suspension?

Quote:
Originally Posted by cdawall View Post
Or they are just the stock shocks on a shoddly lifted truck and it rides like shit because it needs a proper lift to function properly.
i vote for the shocks, actually.
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  #15  
Old 10-20-2011, 07:27 PM
asoces asoces is offline
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Default Re: Will this damage my suspension?

I believe most of the ride quality problems I am noticing (someone can correct me if I'm wrong) is that the shocks have a 'comfort zone' where they are easy to move up and down when close to the resting point, and 'control zones' for when the suspension has moved far enough from the resting point and needs more control on rough ground. My coil spacers have moved the resting point of the stock shocks into one of the 'control' zones', so it's way too firm for moderately smooth ground.


Scroll down to "Twin Tube – PSD Design" on this page for a better description:

http://www.ruhanirabin.com/type-of-shock-absorbers/
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2010 Mazda B2300 - Reg cab - Rear slider - 2.3L - 4X2 - 5sp Auto - 4 wheel discs - 4.10's - Traction/stability control - Class III hitch

Upgrades/Mods: 225/75 R15 Dunlop RVXTs, Daystar leveling kit, Mazda hood deflector, Trail FX bed liner, Extang Trifecta tonneau cover, Pop & Lock tailgate lock, locking gas cap, WeatherTech FloorLiners, 5% rear/30% side window tint, dual horns, Krown rustproofing.

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