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Broken EOE Steering Stabilizer


superjens
04-04-2002, 06:44 PM
Todd, help! I was changing my oil this afternoon and noticed some overly squished bushings. Looks like the bracket bent way out (as you can see by the gap my finger fits into), and the rod coming out of the shock is now also bent. What do I do?

Since I put it on a month or so agi, this weekend was the first time offroading, and it was fairly mild at that. I dunno when it happened though, today was the first time in awhile that I looked under there.

http://www.superjens.com/junk/bent1.jpg
http://www.superjens.com/junk/bent7.jpg
http://www.superjens.com/junk/bent5.jpg

rrdstarr
04-04-2002, 06:49 PM
Damn! I know we installed that thing right! You sure you weren't playing Evel Knievel or something?:D

scott.com
04-04-2002, 07:55 PM
Jens I told you not to go over that jump :D.

Wow that is weird. I'll second that Jens did not do anything crazy this past weekend. If fact I would say he was one of the more level headed people on the trip.

I wonder what could have caused that?

superjens
04-04-2002, 10:34 PM
Just wondering out loud here, do I need to rush out and remove this whole thing ASAP? I'm guessing that repeated metal fatigue on that bracket might make it prone to snapping off now, which might not be so much fun on the highway. :bloated:

Xlax
04-04-2002, 11:24 PM
Holy Crap...you did Nothing this weekend that would have banged that up like this...hmmmm I wonder if Tod has seen this before


C

Kennedy
04-04-2002, 11:39 PM
That kinda stress can only be cause by one thing.
It looks like you over extended the shock by about 3/4 inch.

When you installed the shock, did you cut the wheels all the way left, fully extend the shock, then install the centerlink mount 1/2 inch back from max shock extension?

It looks like you mounted the centerlink mount a little too far out on the centerlink with the wheels pointing straight, thus when you cut the wheels all the way left the centerlink shifted a bit too far and thus bent your mount.

BTW, is the frame side mount on the driver or passenger side. Can't tell in the pics

Mine is on the passenger side

rrdstarr
04-05-2002, 12:44 AM
I did the install on the SS for Jens. I have installed three of them prior to his. I installed it on the passneger side and rotated the wheels left and right about four times before he left. The body of the shock is mounted to the frame bracket. So how the hell did it bend like that? I know I did the work right!

SuperJens PM if you need too!!

ChuckH
04-05-2002, 12:52 AM
Sheesh, Rick installed mine too. I better go check it! J/K! :finger:

FWIW, I think Schlud has been driving with his that way for about a year.

xoc
04-05-2002, 01:56 AM
Looks like the idler arm hit it.

superjens
04-05-2002, 02:35 AM
The idler arm? I'm going to poke my head down there again tomorrow morning (and remove it before it falls apart and kills the rest of the truck). I'll inspect the arm to see if there's any sign of hitting, but I'm a bit skeptical on this, before we slapped the wheels and skidplate back on we checked everything over and over. I'm one of those cautious anal types and for something as important as steering I had both eyes wide open on this job, as did Rick and the 5 other PNWX groupies hanging around. ;)

migojoe
04-05-2002, 06:32 AM
Is there any evidence of the not pictured end "sliding" down the center link toward the pictured end? This would support Kennedy's theory (but not necessarily disprove it if there is no evidence of sliding)

I have one on the way and don't want the same thing to happen :)

-Earl

FSRBIKER
04-05-2002, 10:22 AM
Originally posted by xoc
Looks like the idler arm hit it.

No there is plenty of clearance at full lock. Like Kennedy said the centerlink bracket probably was installed a bit off or possibly not tight enough and slipped, your power steering pump generates a tremendous amount of force and you could defiently bend any stabilizer brackets that way. I will send you out another bracket, ship it to Rick again?

Xlax
04-05-2002, 10:25 AM
Whoa what a gesture !.

I think you just secured the purchasing loyalty from a ton of people here....Wait for my order..

Way to go Tod


Claus

Schludwiller
04-05-2002, 11:20 AM
Originally posted by ChuckH
Sheesh, Rick installed mine too. I better go check it! J/K! :finger:

FWIW, I think Schlud has been driving with his that way for about a year.

No, I just still have the brackets on. I did the same thing when I installed mine (I was guessing on the right position since SLR forgot to include the instructions). The power steering can easily do the damage Jens showed, and my guess is it's the same thing I had. (Spencer is sending me a new bracket to replace the bent one as well)

BTW Rick. Have you looked at Scott's rear shocks? :smoker2:

rrdstarr
04-05-2002, 02:08 PM
What is up with Scott's shocks??? Are they rubbing on something? The swaybar isn't there!!!

superjens
04-05-2002, 02:12 PM
Todd I appreciate the gesture, you'll be gaining a customer for life (and some others too I suspect) with this kind of service. Kudos :D

scott.com
04-05-2002, 03:44 PM
Originally posted by Schludwiller
BTW Rick. Have you looked at Scott's rear shocks? :smoker2:

We all decided last weekend that they where in fact upside down. Chad has the same ones and the boot is at the top. No biggy. Plan to fix them before the next trip.

Oh if I go on the next PNWX trip maybe I can drop by on the way down.

XMan9
04-09-2002, 12:25 AM
Originally posted by Schludwiller


No, I just still have the brackets on. I did the same thing when I installed mine (I was guessing on the right position since SLR forgot to include the instructions). The power steering can easily do the damage Jens showed, and my guess is it's the same thing I had. (Spencer is sending me a new bracket to replace the bent one as well)

BTW Rick. Have you looked at Scott's rear shocks? :smoker2:

it looks like the stab either bottomed out or over extended. maybe it wasn't centered right or slipped out of adjustment. the power steering is so strong it made the bracket and stud bend like lead, hehe... :smoker2:

ozxterra
04-11-2002, 10:34 PM
That sucks Jens. Stress failure I guess... Im still gonna ask Rick to do mine... Rick??

Scott was the only one I saw get airborne that weekend...

rrdstarr
04-11-2002, 10:52 PM
Glad to assist you, Chad! I'd still like to look at Jens to see what ent wrong? I checked under mine and ChuckH's truck this weekend and ours are fine. Although they are from AC but the installation is still sound as the day I installed them.

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