Uneven rear articulation stumping me. Opinions welcome.

[Vertigo]

Am I the only chump who gets more articulation at the RR?

I can usually figure stuff out, but this one is stumping me. Can't see the forest for the trees moment. Many of you are good puzzle-solvers and I'd welcome any opinions about it because I'm overlooking something. Probably something insanely obvious to anyone but me.

I've got 5.2" of artic on both front wheels and left rear. But the right rear has 1/2" MORE artic and for the life of me I can't figure out why.

There is no binding anywhere that I can find. I've looked until I'm cross-eyed. Not against shock caps, skid, motor can, etc. The rod ends are all square to each other and move fluidly with the articulation. I've double-checked all the links and they measure the same length in their pairs. Nothing on the chassis is bent or deformed that would cause a different mounting angle on something.

I'm running stock XR shocks with STRC caps and returned to the silicone bushings that come with the XR kit for the upper shock mts, hoping the nylon inserts (also came with the kit) in the shock mounts were causing a bind, but they weren't. RR still travels half inch higher than any of the other three.

I have been running 13mm external limiters on all four and I've even swapped them side to side to see if one of them could be the cause, but no significant difference. RR still goes 1/2" higher.

For links, I've got HB 6x101 30-degree bents for both upper sets and front lowers. Rear lowers are Crawler Innovations universal delrin lowers.

Not a big issue, but it's one of those things that's sort of driving me nuts because I can't figure it out.

What am I overlooking?

 

[Oz Bruiser]

Pics would be more usefull i imagine than jut words to help anyone reading so they see what you see....

 

[articzap]

Maybe front left foam is compressing more then others??? Try it without the wheels on.

 

[Harvo]

Do both shocks bottom out when fully compressed? There could be something loose inside the shock. did you swap the shocks side to side or just the spacers?

 

[TSK]

My guess is one shock is overfilled. An overfilled shock won't fully compress even when forced (until the seals blow out that is).

Next guess is the rod ends on your links aren't on clocked correctly in relation to the link/mounts. So they allow more flex in one direction, and bind up early in another.

 

[Vertigo]

Maybe front left foam is compressing more then others??? Try it without the wheels on.

That would be way too easy so there's no way that could be it. ;-) Great suggestion. I've checked it only with the wheels on. Duhhh. I can't stand it when I get tunnel-vision. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll try it and let you know what results.

 

[Vertigo]

Pics would be more usefull i imagine than jut words to help anyone reading so they see what you see....

You're probably correct. I figured I'd see if a solution surfaced before I did something that required photos and uploads and such.

 

[Vertigo]

Do both shocks bottom out when fully compressed? There could be something loose inside the shock. did you swap the shocks side to side or just the spacers?

Yes, both shocks bottom out. I just changed the fluid, cap bladders or whatever you call those things that look like silicone eye contacts (I'm having a brain fart right now so can't remember what they're called), and o-rings in the lower end and they compress easily, then rebound about 1/2" from compression (on their own, no spring).

I've had the shocks apart several times in the past month or so and never found anything loose, but that's a good suggestion.

No, I didn't swap the shocks side-to-side, only the limiters. I'm going to check my rod ends again for bind and check it without the tires on. If that doesn't get me anywhere, I'm going to revisit my shocks.

Thanks for the input. I appreciate you taking the time to do so.

 

[Vertigo]

My guess is one shock is overfilled. An overfilled shock won't fully compress even when forced (until the seals blow out that is).

Next guess is the rod ends on your links aren't on clocked eutray in relation to the link/mounts. So they allow more flex in one direction, and bind up early in another.

My shocks work super smooth and compress fully with almost no pressure from the tip of my finger, and rebound from full compression about 1/2" on their own so I don't think they're overfilled. It took me a little while, but I've finally gotten to where I can usually fill them just right so there's no air in them and they're not overfilled. But, then, I've been wrong a lot of times.

I'm going to look at the rod ends again.

You made good suggestions. I'll try a couple of these things and let you know what happens. Thank you.

P.S. In your response, was "eutray" a typo? If it is, will you tell me what you intended to type?

 

[pitcher2103]

i have in the past had issues where the links hit because the rod ends are not clocked in the right angle.. like when pushing up on one wheel the upper and lower link hits.

it could be it?

 

[Vertigo]

i have in the past had issues where the links hit because the rod ends are not clocked in the right angle.. like when pushing up on one wheel the upper and lower link hits.

it could be it?

Yes, that could have definitely been it, and I'm grateful for the input. Thanks for your help.

I found the problem. See below for the confessions of an idiot.

 

[Vertigo]

As suspected, it was something obvious, which makes this a bit embarrassing. I'm going to head out to the garage and smack my forehead with a rubber mallet.

LR and RF shock caps were binding against the mounting nut, the LR the worst of the two. I threw on thinner nylocks and now the caps swing freely. Articulation is within 1/10" side to side now, a difference easily accounted for by my sloppy cuts of the tube I use for limiters.

Amazing. I've looked at those shock caps who knows how many times and never saw that bind. I popped the wheels off to make sure it wasn't one foam compressing farther and I guess with the loss of that weight at the end of each axle, it made me notice the bind.

I really appreciate the help, folks. My puzzle is finally solved. Thanks to you.

Now, to go find my mallet.

Have a great night, folks, and thanks again.

 

[TSK]

Sorry I never proof read my posts.

And for future reference, instead of replying to each post individually, if you look next to the "quote" button, the button directly to the right "+ is the multi quote. Click on that button so it turns red in each post you want to reply/quote, and on the last one press "quote" and it'll pre-sort all of them in one post.

 

[JeremyH]

My shocks work super smooth and compress fully with almost no pressure from the tip of my finger, and rebound from full compression about 1/2" on their own so I don't think they're overfilled. It took me a little while, but I've finally gotten to where I can usually fill them just right so there's no air in them and they're not overfilled. But, then, I've been wrong a lot of times.

When you have your shock removed from the truck and the spring and cup removed from the shock, you should be able to compress the shock and it should not rebound on it's own. If it does, then you have too much oil inside.

 

[Vertigo]

Sorry I never proof read my posts.

And for future reference, instead of replying to each post individually, if look look next to the "quote" button, the button directly to the right "+ is the multi quote. Click on that button so it turns red in each post you want to reply/quote, and on the last one press "quote" and it'll pre-sort all of them in one post.

I just tried this. Thanks, ScorpionKing. I'm definitely not a tech guy so I appreciate you helping me with that. Much faster.

When you have your shock removed from the truck and the spring and cup removed from the shock, you should be able to compress the shock and it should not rebound on it's own. If it does, then you have too much oil inside.

That's good to know. I'll ditch a little of the oil in them. I really do appreciate you chiming in to help.

This is a great forum.

Have a great day, folks.