Justurgee

Ok so I saw some spacers that looked simple to install and fabricate online. I fabricated a set and they work well. The ride is stiff but good. My only issue is that my cv boots now rub slightly on the lower control arm. I have a diff drop kit but fear this may only incase the contact. It seems that ball joint spacers may cure my ales. Our perhaps different lower control arms. Looking for any advice.

BajaRunner

Sounds like you installed the spacers on top of the strut assembly, and not inside?

Did you actually remove the strut assembly, remove the top plate, uncompress the spring, install the spacer, then re-assemble the coil and shock into the single assembly and install?

Or did you simply put a spacer inbetween the top plate and the top mount, like did you have to extend the 3 bolts?

Your supposed to put the spacer "in the pack"... not on top.

Justurgee

There are two types of spacers, polypropylene preload spacers and steel ahock extender types. I chose the shock extender type due to the fact that they are bolted on top of sway away coilovers. Now you are probably wondering why I didn't just crank the adjustment nut on the coilovers. First of all the set screws on the adjuster nut had to be drilled out to replace the springs. Bottom line is that I have adjustable coilovers that are no longer adjustable. I put one inch longer springs on the coilovers to take up some of the slack. Front was still not up to where it was before I did the springs, so these spacers were my answer. That has nothing to do with my question about a rubbing cv boot on the lower control arm. Any advice, scared to put on my diff drop to correct cv angle with the boots rubbing. Not rubbing that badly no damage yet (1 week of driving with manual locks unlocked in hopes tires wouldnt turn cv axles.)

BajaRunner

Well I was asking because after reading 1000's of threads and accounts of installing spacers/springs/lifts on a 4runner and Tacoma, I've NEVER read anyone having the issue you are describing.

It is well known that you do NOT put the "shock extender" type spacers on that are thicker than .25". Any thicker and you are just throwing the entire geometry of the suspension off. Talk about stressing out your ball joints, ESPECIALLY if you put on something that 1 3/4" thick!

Sounds to me that you've already got your coil-overs set to some sort of lift, correct? Then you add nearly another 2" of front lift via a spacer? These trucks aren't meant to handle more than 3" of suspension lift, without a drop-bracket style lift.

Why on earth do you feel that my questions had nothing to do with your issue? I think they have everything to do with it! You need to take the spacer out, or make it a little shorter, or try and get your set screws out to crank the coils.

danimal92sport

Can you post some pictures of the area where the boot is rubbing the LCA? This sounds very odd.

-Dan

brian2sun

I agree with Bajarunner. I've seen top outs make the CV boots touch the LCAs on people's trucks. You must not have any down travel because it sounds like you're at full droop at rest.

Justurgee

Ok so starting over coilovers are set at lowest setting. There are 4.5 inches of adjustment. I put in 1 inch longer coils to take up some slack. That leaves 3 inches I should be able to utilize. This is why I chose to make the spacers 1 3/4. There is still a little down travel. I say this because when I took it off the lift the weight of the vehicle did compress the coils. So it may only be 3 inches but there is still down travel.

Justurgee

Justurgee

Justurgee

Hey pictures of this are on face book my name is justin turgeon. Can't figure how to upload from my phone.

BajaRunner

Hey ok that makes much more sense. Technically you'd be OK, but those "top out spacers" or "shock extender" type lift are a different animal. It literally sounds like you've got too far. I'd machine those top out spacers to be no more than 1/2" or put a spacer within the pack somehow.

Also if you want to upload photos here (there are a few justin turgeon's and I didn't wanna look), make a photobucket.com account, and upload the pix there. Then, in there you'll see the option of copying the UBB code, which you paste it right here. there should be [IMG] tags wrapped around the address to your photo already.

Justurgee

Ok so if you were wondering it is the cv angle. Diff drop in no more rubbing. Got new adjuster nuts and set screws. Install this week. Smaller 1/2
In spacer.

Justurgee

I did go too far. None should do this. Tires are shot, ball joints and cv boots shot.