iregret

iTrader: (4)

It's the weight of the truck. I could take a picture of the bushing that's on top and show you how it's not compressed. Polyurethane just can't take the abuse. Or, I should say, can barely take the abuse.

Comments like this always make me laugh. It's sure easy to dispense advice after the fact. I'll just throw away all my gear and buy new stuff. LOL. This wouldn't be an issue if I used the Procomp adapter instead of the stud adapter.

I just ordered some acetal homopolymer to play with. I couldn't find some in bushing form so I ordered a 1 1/4 x 12" roll. I'll cut my own bushings.

I started building my license plate bracket. It's way overkill. 3/16" thick steel. LOL.

Consequently, my 110 welder can't penetrate it very well. So I did my best to tack it into place. Tomorrow I'll stop by my buddies place and use his 220.

I cut a piece of 2" x 3/16" flat stock into three pieces and welded them together.



I welded the 2" receiver hitch tubing to the H bracket I made.



Like this:



I'm actually going to trim the 7 prong plug lid a bit and also part of the bracket. That way the license plate will sit back in there farther.

Tydriver

iTrader: (2)

I believe his comments were directed towards other people going forward, like me for example. I am eagerly awaiting 2 things, #1 is the weather to shape up, and #2 is how you solve this dilemma. I have ATOMIC's front end parts for the swap and I am wanting to put this mod on my truck very soon. However, if you DO decide to chuck all your stuff I'll send you my address to send the old parts to ;-)

This looks like it may address the issue above, please keep up posted I'd love to hear how you resolve it.

All of this looks trick, I can't wait to see the end results, it's hard to tell from this picture but perhaps maybe you can trim the roll pan and flush mount the trailer connector from the backside so the only thing that protrudes is the cover and the screws ??? I dunno if that'd work or not.

PaulyC

this is correct. there were other people in the thread asking if there was a way around this. my first comment stated that if you had not already purchased coilovers to go the ridetech approach. its not my fault that you didnt read all the way through, as i didnt refer to your situation at all.

iregret

iTrader: (4)

At this point I can't recommend the stud mount. I've really thought a lot about this over the last few days. Polyurethane shouldn't really fail like that. Especially with such low miles on them. It makes me wonder if I got a bad batch (Seems unlikely) or, if they made the shock mounts weaker than they would make a body mount. I've seen hockey puck style lift kits for Jeep's that seemed to last just fine. It's really puzzling.

I think a possible solution would be to capture the polyurethane bushing with steel. I may look into this.

After considering it, I don't think Delrin is a good solution. Essentially, when I went with a stud mount design, the bushings are allowing for some movement with suspension travel. With the Procomp adapter and the hiem like bushing mounted in the upper eyelet, it allows for minor movement with the suspension.

Delrin will not allow this. It's too hard and once crushed or conformed, will not bounce back.

Perhaps a solution is to use a derlin spacer below with a polyurhethane bushing above. That may still allow for some movement of the stud mount.

Long story short, I recommend going with the Procomp adapter.

I worked a bit on my overkill license plate mount today.

I cut the lid down. I couldn't completely remove it because it has a hook built into it that holds the trailer plug, or 4 prong adapter into the socket.



I couldn't mount it from behind like you suggested because it would hit the hidden hitch.



I took apart my factory harness and soldered in my led tail light.



I made sure it worked, and put the wires in the loom.



I went over to my buddies house and welded everything solid with his 220 welder. Also, I notched the bracket so it could sit back farther.



I test fitted everything. Looks like it'll work!



What I didn't get pictures of was the stronger welds, painting the bracket black, and drilling the 1/2 inch hole for the pin that holds the whole thing in place.

Bomba02

I see. Thanks for the info. Have you checked the poly bushing out? It might be fine, it might just sit like that due to the weight. The way you have it with the washers I wouldn't see it falling apart but then again. Other then the stud top mount issues how do you like the feel and ride with coilover set up. Btw hidden hitch is license plate is looking good. Thanks Billy.

iregret

iTrader: (4)

I have not taken it apart yet. I will on my next weekend though. I've come to the conclusion that not all polyurethane is created equal. I have to think that a manufacture would make a shock stud mount softer than a body mount.

I'm going to play with a few different materials. I am very hesitant to put in a solid busing though. There has to be some flexibility there. A captured poly bushing could be a possible solution.

PaulyC

are you planning on swapping from a stud to an eye mount? i called ridetech and they said it can be done but you have to have a way of securely holding the shock shaft without scratching it and even soft jaws on a vice have been scratching them.

craigsix

the milk has gone bad.

iregret

iTrader: (4)

No. I know you keep pushing ridetech, but I'm not unhappy with the QA1's in any way.

My QA1's came with upper eyelets. I swapped to the stud mount.

Here's the adapter:



The removal of the eyelet.



I'm not going with the Procomp adapter because it would add a 1.5" to the ride height. I don't have the room to adjust the Coilovers to make up for the adapter. I ordered a longer coilover and spring to take advantage the stud mount.

I've been researching different compounds that may work for me. I seriously discourage the use of Delrin. That's what's been suggested, but it has zero flexibility. That is not what we need here.

Essentially, the bushings are allowing for upper coilover to pivot with suspension travel. With the Procomp adapter and hiem insert, there's a pivot point. If I replaced the stud mount bushings with something solid, it would eliminate movement and stress the stud adapter.

Through my searching I discovered that polyurethane varies wildly in hardness. I also found a pretty cool resource.

BODYMOUNT BUSHING PAGE

It doesn't really say each bushing's harness rating. Energy suspension won't give out that data. Hell, they won't even give out measurements.

I've researched it pretty hard and found this on eBay:



http://bit.ly/1fNZL1k

This sample has a hardness of 95A. That should be in the range of an aftermarket polyurethane body mount bushing. I've already ordered the Delrin, I'll have to find another use for it.


Nah, I'd give them four thumbs up.

PaulyC

honestly i didnt even realize i was pushing ridetech as much as i was until i went back and looked at my posts. my bad, i have ridetechs and i think that makes me just naturally assume that everybody went with them. im actually pretty jealous that your setup is such an easy change.

as far as the delrin mount goes i will have to get pics the next time i have a day off. its essentially a ball cut in half allowing the shock to pivot around it. looks like you got some good info there though. good luck with experimenting.