So I was setting up my coilover suspension on my rc44 under my scout. I built it with both shocks fully extended. I then hooked up the trac bar...with both shocks fully extended. Bad idea. As I lowered the rig down onto the shocks the axle shifted over to the left side and pulled the drivers side shock against the frame. I am not sure if it bent the shock or not, but if it did I am out $250 for another swayaway shock. CRAP!!!!

So just a heads up on that, I'm sure many of you know this already but in building my first front suspension I may have learned the hard way about how geometry changes when you decrease length between two points.

Anyone know if you bent a SAW shock if you can take it apart and replace stuff that's messed up or if the whole shock has to be completely replaced???

Doing my 4 link, I swaped coils, to find a better height, Then as i lowered the truck to put some weight on the springs, Truck went left, diff went right, LOL, I laughed at my stupidity, I left the upper links off

so the moral to the story is:confused: .......this will be my first time so im curious..........:flipoff2:

You will never forget your first time...

Funny how that works.


With my truck on a lift all 4 wheels off the ground. My front axle is about 8" off to the right side. With weight on wheels, its almost dead ass center.

The coils have sagged, but it is minimal. But my driver side does sit lower then the passenger side.

I think my trac-bar needs adjusted....no biggy.

Good info though.

So i would guess to say that if you had a triangulated 4 link You would not have this problem under full extension of the suspension. The axle would stay located exactly in the middle.

Would a triangulated 4 link work better 4 jumping than the trac bar? But would the drag link in a front suspension cause the same effect even with a 4 link??

I am building the scout to go on the con and occasional road time but also be able to take to Pismo and jump the shiite out of her to test my welds:D and bansh along the dunes at 50mph or so

Originally posted by WhiskeyTango
So i would guess to say that if you had a triangulated 4 link You would not have this problem under full extension of the suspension. The axle would stay located exactly in the middle.

Would a triangulated 4 link work better 4 jumping than the trac bar? But would the drag link in a front suspension cause the same effect even with a 4 link??

I am building the scout to go on the con and occasional road time but also be able to take to Pismo and jump the shiite out of her to test my welds:D and bansh along the dunes at 50mph or so

No, because then you'd have to run full hydro. And full hydro is no good for high-speed or street driving. Also, I believe you can get a new piston and shaft installed.