Strut help please

[mikepeters1983]

Hey I have this problem that I need to figure out asap.

I got a 2002 TB marks new lift with 89 springs. On my road trip in VA I broke a strut on the drivers side. Now today going down the road I broke the same side again. I have not been wheeling besides the 2 small runs posted and I do street driving all the rest of the time. If anyone can please help me out with this I will owe them big time.

[Diacom]

Could you elaborate on how the strut is broken? Less you would like for us to quess....

[MrSmithsTB]

Yes, a description of the break would be good. Pictures would be even better! Methinks it could have something to do with using the stiffest rate springs that are further stiffened by the lift spacers, without having longer struts. You could be the first to experience this downside to the stiffer components.

[mikepeters1983]

ok I will correct my self, I guess the shop that work on the strut to replace the first broken one did not tighten it down all the way and I lost the upper bolt, washer, and spacer. Poc of the first one breaking is down below,

[Diacom]

How old was the strut that broke the first time in the pic?

Is the shop going to take care of you on this one?

Crappy luck, glad to hear this is how it worked out this time though, easier for you to diagnose.

[mikepeters1983]

In the pic the strut has about 4000 miles on it. And the shop that did it was in VA, and I am in AZ right now.

[MrSmithsTB]

Wow, that is a hell of a break. My opinion is that the 89 spring is simply creating too much outward force and, coupled with the added compression for the lift, the struts just cannot take it. I honestly think you are going to have to make some suspension height changes to keep this from happening again.

[mikepeters1983]

Well that's what I was thinking but its only happening to the drivers side

[mikepeters1983]

Got it apart right now and have a friend picking up a new strut. I did break this one bit itwas the very top. Notenough threads to reuse the strut. I think when obit El Paso I am going to be going to 88's. So if anyone has that there looking to get rid of please let me know. Pics will becoming.

[mikepeters1983]

Index a splined disconnect. Any onegot one laying around?

[Trail X]

Got it apart right now and have a friend picking up a new strut. I did break this one bit itwas the very top. Notenough threads to reuse the strut. I think when obit El Paso I am going to be going to 88's. So if anyone has that there looking to get rid of please let me know. Pics will becoming.

The simplest solution is to cut down your 89 spring.

Looks like your strut is getting pulled apart... do you have a rough ride? I'm guessing that your suspension is topping out all the time, which is fracturing your shock piston rod.

Can you post pictures of the latest break? It sounded like it fractured in the top side this time and not inside the shock?

[mikepeters1983]

The simplest solution is to cut down your 89 spring.

Looks like your strut is getting pulled apart... do you have a rough ride? I'm guessing that your suspension is topping out all the time, which is fracturing your shock piston rod.

Can you post pictures of the latest break? It sounded like it fractured in the top side this time and not inside the shock?

If I got to cut them, and take them apart, I might as well just jump down to 88's. When I get to el paso I will be getting new struts, and new springs.

I dont know if I am having a problem of topping out on the strut. I would thing that if I did that it would be both sides doing it and not just the passenger side. Right now I am just going to get the 4WD back up and running and rebuild the front sus. I also went and checked local, and called CarMax where I bought the truck from and almost got a new splined disconnect for my truck. I think that if I would of had a smaller leveling kit I would of been good, but the way that I am looking at it right now is that if they cover it I need to pay 75 bucks, if they dont cover it I need to pay 9 for labor on just looking at it, and if I buy a new/used one )like I am going to do) it wil cost me 100 buck and I learn how to do this. So that is my plan. New splined disconnect, along with a new CV, new springs and new struts. maybe another kit. I dont know yet.

Pics will be posted later when I can get the part out of my storage unit

[mikepeters1983]

Oh and James, I think the ride is really smooth. I dont think I have ever felt it slam down. Mike Barton road in it , I dont think he said anything about the ride being stiff or harsh

[fishsticks]

Oh and James, I think the ride is really smooth. I dont think I have ever felt it slam down. Mike Barton road in it , I dont think he said anything about the ride being stiff or harsh

I think James was making reference to the UPWARD force those springs are putting out. It seems the only plausible reason you're breaking struts.

[mikepeters1983]

I understand what he was saying, but it dont seem to slam and I never really take it anywhere that I get air at. Any wheeling that I do is most of the time slow and steady.

[Trail X]

Eh, the way they broke it just looked like they broke internally. I'm unsure of any other reason why they would break where they did.

[mikepeters1983]

Eh, the way they broke it just looked like they broke internally. I'm unsure of any other reason why they would break where they did.

Thats the way the first one broke, the second one tood about a inch off the top. but this is only happening on the drivers side

[fishsticks]

Eh, the way they broke it just looked like they broke internally. I'm unsure of any other reason why they would break where they did.

A REALLY worn bushing on the lower yoke bolt which is allowing the whole assembly to bend in a way it wasn't designed to?

A tweaked spring perch?

Forgot to put the isolators back in when lifting?


I'm out of ideas...

[mikepeters1983]

The bottom part of the perch rubber bushing is tight. Spring perch? where at? All rubber parts are back on it

[fishsticks]

The spring perch is the part the top of the strut bolts into.


Basically, something is either causing your strut assembly to side load and break, or your springs are topping the struts out.