Kodachrome
Observer
OK, while I try to gain awareness as to odd lack of any written documentation from the manufacturers in regards to suspension component maintenance and make some industry changes, I want to get a maintenance plan in place for my suspension, allow some of the more experienced users of this gear the chance to give input.
So I want to set up a couple scenarios so that this thread is less self serving:
1. Light duty use, weekend off road trips, some mud, some dust and maybe depending on location, some exposure to corrosive elements, usually washed and or garaged after trips. More than likely "California" freeway style bling rather than actual use.
2. Medium duty use, lots of time unwashed, spends half the time on dirt roads, half that time is in 4WD, half is in 2WD. Probable exposure to corrosive elements. Might be used on a ranch or in rural area. Components still only purchased for recreational use as in above.
3. Heavy duty if not professional use. Truck spends over 40% of it's time in 4WD, 70% on dirt or off road. Truck is used for ranching, remote access, often in steep mountainous terrain with various weather elements in play. Might be for storm chasing, expedition use. Rarely washed if at work, corrosion from road salts / magnesium chloride likely.
The way I use my truck is in between 2 & 3, I still do a lot of miles on paved roads, but only to access more remote areas. A lot of time in snow, ice, on dirt. If the bed is empty and the expedition module is off, I will do trails rated as high as 6, if the module is on, up to a 4. The max weight of my vehicle loaded is just over 5K.
The truck is a 2005 Tacoma access cab, TRD. The components are Camburg 2.5 Coilovers in front with Icon UCA's. ICON reservoir shocks in back with a leaf pack upgrade to handle the weight of the expedition module.
I keep a close eye on things on this rig, the one mistake being in never removing the top protective cap on my Icon UCA's. So I am replacing the uniballs soon, will do so once I design a lower protective boot. The upper cap on the Icon Billet UCA's don't really offer any form of protection as in practice, they trap in the elements that work up through the bottom of the uniball, would be better served if I removed it so I could clean it out easier.
So here we go:
A. Front shocks, besides washing off mud and residue and checking for corrosion, what is needed in terms of maintenance and re-building, what intervals based on the list above?
B. Upper control arms, what is used to clean the highly exposed uniballs and hiem mounts and what is the best course of action in preventing corrosion?
C. Rear shocks and reservoirs, besides washing off mud and residue and checking for corrosion, what is needed in terms of maintenance and re-building, what intervals based on the list above?
Feel free to chime in, but please.....try to keep it mature, intelligible and pertinent, help make this useful for everyone.
So I want to set up a couple scenarios so that this thread is less self serving:
1. Light duty use, weekend off road trips, some mud, some dust and maybe depending on location, some exposure to corrosive elements, usually washed and or garaged after trips. More than likely "California" freeway style bling rather than actual use.
2. Medium duty use, lots of time unwashed, spends half the time on dirt roads, half that time is in 4WD, half is in 2WD. Probable exposure to corrosive elements. Might be used on a ranch or in rural area. Components still only purchased for recreational use as in above.
3. Heavy duty if not professional use. Truck spends over 40% of it's time in 4WD, 70% on dirt or off road. Truck is used for ranching, remote access, often in steep mountainous terrain with various weather elements in play. Might be for storm chasing, expedition use. Rarely washed if at work, corrosion from road salts / magnesium chloride likely.
The way I use my truck is in between 2 & 3, I still do a lot of miles on paved roads, but only to access more remote areas. A lot of time in snow, ice, on dirt. If the bed is empty and the expedition module is off, I will do trails rated as high as 6, if the module is on, up to a 4. The max weight of my vehicle loaded is just over 5K.
The truck is a 2005 Tacoma access cab, TRD. The components are Camburg 2.5 Coilovers in front with Icon UCA's. ICON reservoir shocks in back with a leaf pack upgrade to handle the weight of the expedition module.
I keep a close eye on things on this rig, the one mistake being in never removing the top protective cap on my Icon UCA's. So I am replacing the uniballs soon, will do so once I design a lower protective boot. The upper cap on the Icon Billet UCA's don't really offer any form of protection as in practice, they trap in the elements that work up through the bottom of the uniball, would be better served if I removed it so I could clean it out easier.
So here we go:
A. Front shocks, besides washing off mud and residue and checking for corrosion, what is needed in terms of maintenance and re-building, what intervals based on the list above?
B. Upper control arms, what is used to clean the highly exposed uniballs and hiem mounts and what is the best course of action in preventing corrosion?
C. Rear shocks and reservoirs, besides washing off mud and residue and checking for corrosion, what is needed in terms of maintenance and re-building, what intervals based on the list above?
Feel free to chime in, but please.....try to keep it mature, intelligible and pertinent, help make this useful for everyone.