Stone guards for rear shocks
Submitted: Thursday, Oct 28, 2004 at 10:52
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Member - Russell S
The forward lower portion of my rear shocks (Koni - 50mm tube diameter) got hammered a bit by gravel on the last trip, so I wondered how I might protect them. ARB have stone guards for their OME shocks, but they're about $25 each. I happened to pass a stainless steel joint the other day, and dropped in to ask if they had any 50mm tube with about 1.6 mm wall thickness. They had some offcuts, and I got a piece about a foot long for $10. So far so good, but how to make it into a decent stone guard? Decided to split the centre six inches or so, and cut each end from either side so I ended up with two stone guards - a section six inches long for the front half of the bottom of the shock tube, and a 2-3 inch collar that wraps around the bottom attachment point. Clean up the burrs, and it just pressed straight on! The tube springs out a bit when split, so it fitted over the tube no worries. Two stainless hose clamps on each side and it's done. Very pleased.
No doubt there's better solutions out there, but that's
mine.... If I've confused you completely, could send a picture.
Reply By: Member - Sand Man (SA) - Thursday, Oct 28, 2004 at 11:00
Thursday, Oct 28, 2004 at 11:00
Sounds like a neat piece of engineering Russell.
Will probably oulast the OME's and probably even the Landy.
AnswerID:
82058
Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Thursday, Oct 28, 2004 at 11:06
Thursday, Oct 28, 2004 at 11:06
Stones from front
wheels? How about a Mudflap infront of the shocks?
AnswerID:
82059
Follow Up By: Member - Russell S - Thursday, Oct 28, 2004 at 16:20
Thursday, Oct 28, 2004 at 16:20
Interesting, but I don't like the idea. I had bigger mudflaps behind the existing front wheel flaps, but they didn't stop nearly as much as I'd like. I'm going to change the material to a harder acrylic, but I still reckon some will get through. I've seen what ARB are offering - a little mud flap thing on a frame that is secured on the
suspension control arm about a foot in front of the shock. Might work on the straight and level on a gravel road, but I reckon it'd get bent or destroyed off road with sticks, mud, ruts, rocks etc. The ARB bloke reckoned it would flex or rotate on the mounting rod, but I'm not convinced in the least.
Mine are on the shock out of the way, and provide the protection needed at that point. Being stainless steel, they won't get the paint knocked off, and should last quite a while. If I change shocks, just whip them off and put them on the next set.
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Reply By: Michael_FNQ - Thursday, Oct 28, 2004 at 11:25
Thursday, Oct 28, 2004 at 11:25
OME stone guards are 25.00 a pair not each.
AnswerID:
82060
Follow Up By: Member - Russell S - Thursday, Oct 28, 2004 at 16:13
Thursday, Oct 28, 2004 at 16:13
oops. Wasn't sure about that - knew it was $25 for something... Anyhow, no ARB dealer near me and they didn't have any at the 4WD show. You get a bit of satisfaction doing it yourself too....
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Reply By: Peter 2 - Thursday, Oct 28, 2004 at 18:52
Thursday, Oct 28, 2004 at 18:52
The only problem with fitting guards is that you inhibit cooling of the shock by the air flowing over it which will icrease the chances of the shocks fading.
If the metal is a snug fit and contacts the body of the shock the effect would be minimal but a rubber flap mounted on the shock would definitely stuff up the cooling.
For those that are sceptical, try touching your shocks after a high speed run down a corrugated dirt road for and hour or so. They can get too hot to touch!
AnswerID:
82127
Follow Up By: Member - Russell S - Thursday, Oct 28, 2004 at 21:05
Thursday, Oct 28, 2004 at 21:05
I agree. Heat was a consideration, but these do fit snugly, and the potential for heat retention is easier to live with than the damage done by rocks etc. I will keep it in mind, and see how the shocks perform. Thanks for the input.
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