OME or Bilstein shocks for LibertyTc's KJ?

LibertyTC said:

Ya they will work for how long before they compress and need attention to tightening the shock bolts down. Where exactly are the install instructions for these by the way, if you may have installed them wrong?
What is required to tighten things back down? Remove battery and air box etc..??
Jayme, I understand you tested them for Boiler, and then he may have requested them back, and I believe today you now have the aluminum shims.
I hope Boiler will reply to my request to return the poly and please make me aluminum ones, that do not compress.

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Install instructions, you're joking right? They just lay on top of the top mount, no way to install them wrong, they fit only one way, not a wrong way to install them.
Yes to retighten you either have to work around everything or remove, tighten and reinstall.
I was also one of the testers for them.

Ya Tom I was being critical that Boiler said you installed them incorrectly.
How the F are you suppose to install them incorrectly when they only fit one way?
Or was he trying to say that you did not tighten it down after it was on the ground again after load?

LibertyTC said:

What is required to tighten things back down? Remove battery and air box etc..??
Jayme, I understand you tested them for Boiler, and then he may have requested them back, and I believe today you now have the aluminum shims.
I hope Boiler will reply to my request to return the poly and please make me aluminum ones, that do not compress.

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Yep - to re-tighten, just remove the airbox and battery tray and tighten the 4 bolts for each shock in the engine bay. Takes a few minutes, but it worked out for me.

I did send them back to him (per his request). I could run my fingers over the top and feel where they had compressed some, but it was so minimal. It really was.

I have the aluminum ones now as that was part of the deal for testing his poly ones. My KJ feels the same with the aluminum ones as it did with the poly ones.

tommudd said:

Testing was done differently maybe, extreme Monroe County Ohio testing was done on mine down on the farm :happy175:

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That's possible... however I think Montana trail/mountain testing might be somewhat comparable. Along with 3 trips to Badlands, 1 trip to Southern Missouri Off Road Ranch, 1 trip to the Cliffs, and 2 trips to Bundy Hill. Dang, we were busy last year.

At any rate, if I didn't already have the aluminum ones and was in the market for the shims, and knowing what I know about them, I'd probably order them... based off of personal experience.

In the end, it's always going to be your choice, TC. Do what makes you feel better. If you're leary about the poly ones, definitely get the aluminum ones instead.

I told you the same thing on the phone last night Tim!:smokin:

I also told you I'd install the lift with Jen and then you don't have to pay for installation!:shrug:

Here's something else I was thinking about in terms of my testing vs. Tom's of the poly spacers:

Tom has more weight on the front of his KJ by way of his ARB bumper... I still have the factory one. I believe he's also running OME CRD springs (right?). If that's the case, there wouldn't be as much 'give' as my OME HD springs. Both of these things could result in more compression of the poly spacers he had vs the ones I had.

Also, who's to say that Boiler didn't use different materials to test with... so maybe Tom got something a little less sturdy. I'm guessing on that one, but still... :shrug:

I'm sorry for all of this confusion. I'm just digging into it now so please be patient. I did not fully understand that either Tom or Yellocoyote were having to retighten. They may have told me this but I do not recall such. What I recall is that they said that the shims compressed slightly. I thought this was normal upon installation, and a one time thing. Just compressing under the load of the bolts. All materials will compress slightly under bolting tension.

One thing that I should have done is indicated torque specs for those bolts. From what I've read, those bolts are supposed to be tightened to 80 ft lbs. This kind of preload should exert a compressive force of about 10,000 lbs plus, per bolt. If tightened to 80 ft lbs, those bolts are going to put enough precompression on the shim that a jeep bouncing down the road is going to be irrelevant. Even loaded up to 5000 lbs, you're looking at about 1500-2000 lbs of weight in the front max. At 2G acceleration (big bump) you're talking 4k lbs of compression. If the plate is already compressed to 40,000 lbs under bolt preload, we're only talking 10% more load, in a worst case application.

For now, please torque the bolts to 80 ft-lbs and I'll dig into this a bit further and get back with you.

All of the math calculations sound good on paper,
BUT we all know full well that using something in the "real world" is sometimes different with varying results.
Now back to the 790 vs- 927 spring comparison and throw ARB bumper in there, that may well in fact play a part but I don't think so. Mine rides somewhat firmer and has more weight but not to the point that it would smash something like that if it should hold what it suppose to.
Granted it is not a lot ( that they compress) but it is enough that anyone buying them with limited knowledge of a front suspension may have to be returning to the place that installed them for a noise issue.
Again Boiler nothing against you personally, it was a test to see if they would work. In my book give me steel or aluminum.

I agree about your extra weight, I don't think it would make much difference.

It was just speculation on my part... considering the usage that we both put them through and the reported results.

I appreciate Boiler getting back to me on PM tonight.
I have requested to exchange the poly for an aluminum set.
I have to say the cutting of the poly material is very good, nice CNC.
I also will feel more comfortable with the aluminum vs. the poly.

Should I Use the boot on front Bilstien shock or not?
Was over last night @ Ryan's and he said that I should post up this question as some concern over the boot potentially rubbing on spring.
Any idea on this?
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I used it.

LibertyTC said:

Should I Use the boot on front Bilstien shock or not?
Was over last night @ Ryan's and he said that I should post up this question as some concern over the boot potentially rubbing on spring.
Any idea on this?

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My father always told me put a "boot" over my "strut"...especially if I'm rubbing against somethingleghump.gif

Front boot on... ok. :shrug:

What's the verdict on the rears - install boot up or boot down? kopkrab.gif

Mine are up.

TeraFlex Arrived!

Finally...got em..:icon_lol:
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Next Week Hopefully Boiler's Steel 3/8 Spacers will arrive...

Steel Spacers Arrive!

:gr_grin: Received Boiler's Top Plate Steel Spacers. (Thanks Chip!)
I Love the smell of fresh paint in the morning....
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Man ... your makin' me jealous! ...

LibertyTC said:

Finally...got em..:icon_lol:
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You must be registered for see images attach

Next Week Hopefully Boiler's Steel 3/8 Spacers will arrive...

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Some Meguire's Ultimate protectant works wonders on the bumpstops. :smokin:

Jeez HJ you are right...they were a little dull ~!!! Here is the "Ultimate" look. Just 4 you.
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And Luke I am jealous, you got more posts than I do...LOL.