Blackdiamond (Gup-C build-up)

[blackdiamond]

Should I worry about dirt damaging the shaft or seal?   

[gotrocks]

Should I worry about dirt damaging the shaft or seal?   

Boots actually keep dirt in.  I've seen it in a many shocks that I took the boot off of.  When you go through mud holes it just stays in there even if it has drain holes and rubs on the shaft as it goes up and down. 

[Doof]

kinda funny how that works

[HumboldtMike]

with the cans up they should be able to clean themselves off when compressed. vs. upside down with a boot where fine sand etc can linger

[Doof]

and the grit can build up easier over time upside down

[blackdiamond]

The bdrunner is home!

The rotation of the rear differential seems to be a wonderful success, the vibration I felt is gone.  I have not yet had it up to 70-75 mph to verify that all is well above 60 mph.

The transfer case is a little over filled and pushing the excess out the overflow.  The plan is to let it equalize with the maximum volume of fluid possible.  I need to take a closer look at the box of parts that I got back, but it appears that the coupler was pretty "burned" for only going about 2,320 miles since the previous rebuild.  I pulled the paperwork out of the files to verify the miles.

[Doof]

congrats on gettin the rig home, i bet it feels nice to have it back

[blackdiamond]

Here is the coupler that I found in the box of returned parts.  I know there are more than one set of parts and I'm not 100% that the coupler was replaced this time, but I think it was and I tossed out the previous one.  In any case, it shows some carnage.

[Doof]

 

[Duffil]

possibly out-of-spec oil clearance on that? MC specs it at, what, .004"-.010"...any idea where yours was?\

You should make sure BigMike sees those pics, as well.

[blackdiamond]

possibly out-of-spec oil clearance on that? MC specs it at, what, .004"-.010"...any idea where yours was?\

You should make sure BigMike sees those pics, as well.

It was at 0.08" both times when they took it apart.

[blackdiamond]

The added bonus from this trip to the shop is the new spring perches are a bit taller than the stock ones giving a little extra lift in the rear so it almost sits level now.

[gotrocks]

Wow man thats crazy.  I know this might sound crazy but I wonder if the adapter is out of spec in some way.  There could've been a slight flaw in the machining process and if it was out of spec by just a tad it could be causing premature bearing failure.  Just a thought.

[blackdiamond]

Well, tonight I'm feeling a bit defeated since I have given up on getting the rear shocks installed tonight.  The passenger side shock is on, but I am out of ideas on the passenger side with the tools that I have on hand.  My first problem was that I didn't know that I had to drill out the bushings on the bilsteins to mount them on the stock rear mounts.  I made a trip to the store to pick up a 3/4 inch drill bit that was way more expensive than I expected.  I think a 13/16 might have been a better choice, but I wanted the bushing to still be tight and there wasn't one in stock.  The passenger side shock seemed to install rather easily once I figured out a system to keep the shock compressed to the needed length.  The drivers side upper mount is blocked by the muffler and I simply cannot get it lined up easily (I actually used a marker with duct tape to make an alignment pin) and have no access to hammer it on.  I knew the drivers side shock would be a pain in the butt because I have done this before.  My plan is to get a longer bolt that will thread into the mount so I can force the shock in place using a wrench.  Any other ideas that I might try if that doesn't work?  I'm sure the next option would be to find a large drill bit so it wouldn't be so tight.

Oh, the little things that make projects a mess.  I'm leaving town tomorrow after work so I'll have to wait until Sunday to continue.  I was planning to take the 4Runner to get some miles on the t-case, but alas it isn't meant to be.

Me

[gotrocks]

HAHA sorry I have to laugh.  Wish I could help you out but I'm a tad bit far away.  I guess I just need to move over you way one of these days.

BTW you need to update you sig.

[blackdiamond]

I got the second shock installed last night.  A big THANK YOU to mrsblackdiamond for coaxing me to hit the bushing with the drill once again.  I wasn't successful finding a bolt that would thread into the mount so I was back to hammering.  I was able to use a long 1/2 inch extension to get a hammer on it with my wife holding it in place.  Once I drilled it out again using the same bit (it was the largest one I have) it went on fairly easily.  I then managed to put my strap back together so it wouldn't hold the shock compressed to mount the bottom hole so after fighting a while with it I grabbed another strap and realized the problem.  The first shock was so much easier than the second, so much for experience helping.  Tonight I'm planning to cut the shock boots off the front shocks as they are holding water.  It appears that the Bilstein 12 inch shocks have about the same compressed length as the Rancho 9000s that came off but a lot more extension.  I think 10 inch shocks would have provided plenty of extension and likely would have been a better fit for compression.

The list to complete the bdrunner is getting short:

(1) FROR Front Bumper & Frame Brace - Hopefully before Moab 2008 in April
(2) Longfield Hub Gears - Future
(3) Winch - Future
(4) Hub Studs -
(5) Knuckle Studs -

I can't think of anything else at the moment.

[gotrocks]

IMHO I would get the hub and knuckle studs soon.  I need to because they scare me.  I've seen them break.  It makes for a long long day when that happens and I don't think you want that happening down in Moab.

[blackdiamond]

IMHO I would get the hub and knuckle studs soon.  I need to because they scare me.  I've seen them break.  It makes for a long long day when that happens and I don't think you want that happening down in Moab.

I won't argue that they would be an excellent purchase, however, the funds are gone for now.  I know you broke your ring & pinion on 37's in Moab the last time we were there and the hub & knuckle studs seemed to survive.  This gives me confidence in my setup for one Moab trip that I'll probably be holding back a bit for a variety of reasons.  I like to get used to a new rig before I push it's limits and my mom may be riding in the rig on several of the trips so I may stay away from the really agressive trails so we'll all have a great time.  There are places my mom wouldn't feel comfortable riding and wouldn't be able to walk, Widow Maker Hill comes to mind.

I just got off the phone with Brian at Front Range Off Road Fabrication and have a Severe Use Front Bumper and Frame Brace on order.  I was one customer too late so I'll have to wait until the next round of parts arrives so the estimate is about 5 weeks.  This will give me time to get the frame brace installed.  Brian was extremely friendly on the phone, it almost felt like a Marlin Crawler experience!

[gotrocks]

Cool can't wait to see those on the Runner.

[THK Matt]

Cool can't wait to see those on the Runner.

X2

[blackdiamond]

Quick Update.

Tonight I took the "backroad" to my house that is an unpaved sidestreet with fairly large holes so I could get a little taste of how the new Bilstein shocks would ride off-road.  The ride is very different that it was with the Rancho 9000s, actually more firm which is a bit of a surprise.  The Bilsteins don't allow nearly as much compression which reduces the amount of movement.  They seem to prevent movement while the Rancho's controled the rebound.  Very different shock designs and very different handling.  Neither one was bad, but I think I'll enjoy the Bilsteins more unless I ever feel the need to adjust the ride.

Can someone explain how the High Pressure Gas design controls extension since their design is to extend when not under load?  The Rancho's would compress easily, but could be adjusted to be very difficult to extend. 

[gotrocks]

I know this isn't a very good engineering type answer, but from what I understand is that it would all have to do with the valving of the shocks.  If you notice the extension of the shock although it will extend with no force added it is a very controlled smooth extension.  What the gas does in the shock is keep a firm pressure on both ends of the shock to minimize I guess you could say shock lag.  A conventional shock will extend slower because it has to be pulled instead of an assisted push from the gas.  On compression it will keep a continual pressure on the shock ends and control it that way. 

I hope that was a good enough explaination. 

[THK Matt]

i think that was a beautiful explanation gotrocks.
i understood it very well.

[blackdiamond]

A new front bumper arrived today...if I only had enough energy to be excited. 

[blackdiamond]

 

[gotrocks]

BLING BLING.  Looks good man.  Where's the winch now??  Go and check out winchdepot.com  they seem to have some pretty good deals there. 

[Yota87Truck]

Nice bumper, where did ya get it from?

[blackdiamond]

Nice bumper, where did ya get it from?

www.frontrangeoffroadfab.com

I didn't see it on the website tonight for some reason. 

[gotrocks]

I don't know if your model is the same one they make for the first gens but a friend of mine just said that they are no longer making the bumper at least for first gen trucks.  Your bumper would fit the first gen trucks I think and therefore you might have one of the last ones they make?

[THK Matt]