Any interest in 4wd front coilovers to replace tbars?

[Atomic]

So I took some measurements, for the guys that want to do the stud top, if you get some sort of thick washer or spacer that is 3/8" ID and 1 1/8" OD I think you can use the stud top directly with my upper bracket without messing with a bushing getting crushed.

Let me know if there is any interest and I can have some made, probably 1/4" thick.

 

[Bomba02]

So you don't think a bushing is needed for the stud top? Could I plan to do the same without using your top bracket? I know the washer would be different. Just curious. Thanks billy

 

[Atomic]

I dont think its really needed no. The hole in the hoop is too big amf would need a washer regardless. My brackets should match the angle of the hoop so it should be the same but i like my brackets bettet if you go this route since i know its a flat surface to ride on.

 

[ThatDudeOrion]

So I've been wondering a lot about this myself, I just ordered up all my stuff yesterday, and I decided to go with the DS303's and the stud top adapters. My primary goal is to make the suspension work really well, not necessarily be super low. I mean I don't want huge gaps either, but If the 303's with the stud top don't get me low enough, I'll go to thinner body mounts and or spindles and try to maintain the most shock/wheel travel I can.

The main difference I can see between the stud top mount and the pro-comp adapter is that while the pro comp adapter is hard mounted to the shock hoop, the upper shock eyelet can still pivot on the adapter itself, while also pivoting on your mounts as well. Versus using the stud top mount on the shock itself, which takes that upper pivot point away. The thing is, I don't know if there really needs to be any pivoting/deflection in the upper mount for the shock to survive. As the LCA moves through its arc and the shock lengthens and shortens, is it sufficient to have the only bottom shock mount swiveling? I know the OEM solution has the fixed upper mount, but that probably has some pretty squishy rubber isolating it, and more importantly it's not bearing the weight of the whole vehicle. On the flip side, the stock Tundra suspension looks a lot like what Atomic has created, and from the pics I can find it is using a fixed upper mount for the coilovers as well. Which makes me think ours could work with a fixed mount too. Also looks like MacPherson struts use a fixed upper mount as well. Just food for thought I guess... I'm pretty sure a solid upper mount would work, I just don't know if I want to risk $320 in shocks to find out, lol.

 

[Atomic]

I dont have my truck at the moment, but like you mentioned I dont think the angle of the shock changes much as the LCA moves through its motion. You can test this out yourself by installing the shock without the spring and moving the LCA by hand. I would take pics of it at full compression, and full extension and compare the angle the shock makes.

 

[Tahoewhat]

So I took some measurements, for the guys that want to do the stud top, if you get some sort of thick washer or spacer that is 3/8" ID and 1 1/8" OD I think you can use the stud top directly with my upper bracket without messing with a bushing getting crushed.

Let me know if there is any interest and I can have some made, probably 1/4" thick.

Disregard my comment in my thread. lol.

So your saying use only a washer in place of the bushing? Would that be ******* the shock?

 

[Atomic]

No harder than the procomp mount. The shock should never bottom out, and if it does thats what the soft bumpstop is for.

And yes just a washer so the stud wont go through the hole since the base isnt very big.

 

[digitalfiend]

The first prototype set of my heavy duty washers and bushings is done. These are for the stock upper mounts and they're slated to go to 04blackout:











I'm cross-posting this to make sure those interested see it. I've been on a hiatus from posting on here because I've been going mad inside my lab trying to get these washers machined right. This 4340 steel is pretty darned tough. This is good once it's put into place, but it makes machining it and cutting it *very* difficult. I have a small lathe and basic tooling and it has ruined just about every HSS lathe tool that I've thrown at it. It tends to extremely HOT while it's being machined...once it heats up it ruins anything you throw at it until it cools down. I finally tried out some carbide cutting tips and that seemed to be the best. So now I believe I have a way to produce many of these on a small scale.

If 04blackout is ready to go then I'll get this first set to him and have him test them. Once we work out any kinks then I'll produce more of these and they'll be for sale in my own thread like Atomic did with his mounts.

 

[Atomic]

I can go ahead and tell you that washer is going to be way too big OD wise. It will not fit in the shock pocket. You need one about half that size, in the 1.25" diameter range.

 

[digitalfiend]

I can go ahead and tell you that washer is going to be way too big OD wise. It will not fit in the shock pocket. You need one about half that size, in the 1.25" diameter range.

On the stock shock pocket they fit with no issues - there's even some wiggle room available. Since I only bought your lower mounts I can't confirm that they'll fit inside your top mounts, and this is one of the things I'll need some help testing.

The next set of bushings that I'm going to make will be the prototypes for your upper mounts. The bushings will be 2" in diameter and will be 0.5" thick. The washers are going to be 2.5" in diameter and 0.25" thick. Based on some of the details I've gathered these should fit fine in your upper mounts. Without having a set for yourself, can you tell if these will fit or will I need to go with different dimensions for your upper mounts?