VITARA?ESCUDO rear shocks.

[RUGARD]

Well guys lift is done and have just replaced the rear shocks with some adventure 4x4's by monroe, they are 55mm longer in down travel and nearly the same in up travel as standard, however im a bit worried as they are heaps beefier than std ones that when compressing the top half of shock, (the part that covers and slides down the bottom half may hit those drum brake lines that are going along the diff near the shock, any ideas? dont really want the shock hittin them!!
Maybe cut that cover off and have the shock arm exposed orrrr an acordian boot maybe like on motorbike front forks?

[churchill]

Did you check that with the axle on the bumpstop? I did bend my brake line so that there was more clearence. Did you get the commodore shocks?

[RUGARD]

No i didnt check it that way! You reckin take spring out and have a look see? Nah i got toyota prado rears ..
commodore ones were waaaaay long for the VL..

[churchill]

Yeah check it like that, that should tell you if you have any interference.

[RUGARD]

No interfearance at all, mate of mine just got some old man emus, made under licence by monroe, my compressed and extended lengths are exactly the same as is all dimensions.. Only diff mine says Monroe 4x4 adventures and his says OME. both give an extra 55mm down travel same compressed travel as standard and half the price. Paid $170 for the pair which is cheeeeeap thanks to my contact, your a legend mate. Bent the brake lines, now all good, could easily re-do the brake lines if i had to only about 30cm or so would need re-routing.
Hmmm now fronts, i have the adventures aswell, did the cap flip, it still worrys me though deviating the cap upside down from the standard, is everyone sure this is safe????

[lincooln]

yea dude, the cap flip is safe as. It wouldn't be so popular everywhere if it wasn't. It'll be fine. cross my fingers that nothing will go wrong

[RUGARD]

Oh okay then sweeeeeeet.

[Big-AL]

i have run the strut cap flip on a few escudos and have not had any problems. did you slip a few washers on each bolt to fill the lip on the cap and make it sit flush?

[RUGARD]

i have run the strut cap flip on a few escudos and have not had any problems. did you slip a few washers on each bolt to fill the lip on the cap and make it sit flush?

Hey Big Al yeah i did mate, despite some people not doing that i decided to for piece of mind.
Oh okay cool, so you just fliped it over and added washers there and thats it?

[RUGARD]

i have run the strut cap flip on a few escudos and have not had any problems. did you slip a few washers on each bolt to fill the lip on the cap and make it sit flush?

Hey mate, i also used new M8 30mm 8.8 high tensile bolts and nylocs, as replacement for the studs i pressed out, theyre all good aye?

[catalystracing]

Id be interested to see what you think of the Monroes, Ive just fitted them to my 93 LWB. Bit harsh for me, not sure if you can soften the ride at all.

[RUGARD]

Ohhhh yeah, they are hard all right,not too bad though.
I lost my handling when i did the suspension lift and took out front sway bar, so these stiffer shocks in the back make the road handling loads better, and when i tested them off road yesterday they were awesome, excellent control and when going thru ruts cant relly tell that they are tough.
and what you will find, is i tested them against the standard suzuki shock (brand new) and the monroes only took an exrtra 1.6kg to start compressing over the standard ones, yet when i compressed the monroe on one hand and my factory ones i removed on the other hand and push down the zook ones felt way softer, i put that down to ours maybe being obviously less than new and propbably due for replacement.
I notice you said you have the LWB mines the SWB so its prob a more solid ride than yours again!! haha.
Give it some time and make sure because theyre a big shock you need high tens washers over the bushes, if you get under your horse and try rotate the bottom cylinder you will see the rubber bushings move alot, this contributes to the bumpyness of them, and during serious offroad if it rotated around on the down stroke which they do, it can get hooked up on the bottom mounting and tear out the eye of the shock, if you get under and have a look you will see what i mean...
let me know if you need pics

[nova499]

hi guys just wandering what a strut top flip is?? and the advantage?
also can u hook me up with the same rear shocks for that price would be keen as think my standard ones are pooped

[lincooln]

its just flipping the top cap, rugard or kernels can explain it better than I can, and it lets the front flex more, so you have more wheels on the ground more often

[Big-AL]

Hey mate, i also used new M8 30mm 8.8 high tensile bolts and nylocs, as replacement for the studs i pressed out, theyre all good aye?

yeah mate

[RUGARD]

the cap flip is really simple, easier to do it when you do the spring lift.. please let me know if you need some, as i have mates that can look after us on the prices.
if you wanna know more about the cap flip and a lift let me know and i will fill you in on all the ins and outs as i did it only a few weeks back.