We already knew. Somewhere in this long thread suzi pulls a wheely. Glad someone else has posted here. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

i am so pleased that i was able to make this trip.

i respect the crew that will plan a multi-state venture to run the rubicon AND the dusy-ershim.
add carlos to the mix, and even little suzi the psychic will see the end of the trail!
thanks for letting me play w/the big boys.

i see the rubicon/dusy pics posted(i have few +video of divorce rock). outstanding- i still feel the experience.

suzi is embarrassed by her failures- i don't like being a trail plug. kevin's assist in cobbling together a fuel delivery system got me all the way home.

this pic means much to me....

ha ha the az guys got labeled LEGIT on the rubicon, and proved it on the dusy. should be their motto.

i didn't know work had you ranging down the valley that far? i always stop at "the baths(?)"when i do the 152 run.
you do your lassen camping?

i had to leap back into work upon arrival home, and am just starting to look over suzi.
apart from bending up some steering, suzi came through pretty well. i intend to detail more.
it all kinda fits with her development "plan", oddly enough.

Camping at Lassen didn't happen. Instead, we road-tripped to Grants Pass, visited the Oregon Caves, Crater Lake and other southern Oregon vacay-type spots. I had my volcano-geek on, was good for awhile. Then, like you, jumped right back into the grind.

Cheers.

so-
some preliminary inspection of suzi's front end shows a lot of "contact".

i think an electrical panel door is minimally sufficient for a skid plate.
however, the basic structure i had it bolted to seems to have survived.
there was much evidence of skid plate use- all the way back.
her new slider additions worked as hoped- the body and trailing link mounts were protected.
of interest....
the front springs are flexing into the calipers, making the brakes kinda disappear, so i guess i need to level out those spring perches.
spring rub.

caliper rub.

body damage: suzi the pychic vs. tree.

i also noticed some camber adjustment bolt movement on the r/f. l/f doesn't seem to have moved.
i will add observations/insights,?, i'm sure.........

upchuk091813
i have pulled off the front skid.
i am going to re-construct the front skid differently-
i have a new tool that may help remove steering parts without screwing up the grease cups, replacement tierod ends, and ball joints. a new draglink is on it's way.

anybody have any old front axle pieces? I need some 3bolt flanges(off driver axle)

burpon091913
draglink jammed into diff. and diff. bracket(driver).
steering didn't work too well when this happened....


all things considered, suzuki steering seems ok unless you want to be towed into rocks and trees. then you are sure to bend something. I will avoid this in the future.
also- the strut mount bearings seem dry(noise when turning).
the new tierod tool is useless. mabe it can be modified.

Gonna get the Jeep Trail Tough badges? Cool!

trail tough. oregon. good people who speak suzuki.
i don't mind tough jeep trails. nor does suzi the psychic.
she's still getting me home.
ha ha
i am marking things, so i can see what's new next time.


justanathaday092113
received and installed draglink.
gonna try some different springs in front.
found some axles.
i have slightly lowered the front bumpstops(2 thick washers). i suspect i was using the strut as a stop, when the wheel was fully stuffed.
also found the center(tail?)front diff. mount bolts loose.

since the front end was being looked at........
full stuff. bumpstop "engaged", strut near compressed(-1/8"?).note cv angles.


dropped. looks excessive, but I've had no problems.......

except for the wheel fitment problem suzi has, this may be the best useful articulation using mostly stock parts and stock mount locations. swinging the rear of the a-arm out(to move the wheel forward) wouldn't change function much.
hmmm... lotta work making axles fit. hmmm......
think i'll look at the other end for a while.

the fuel tank has been smacked a bit. mabe a bit more thru the rubicon and dusy-ershim.

i had raised the tank a bit in the past.

perhaps if i cut out that brace that the current front tank mounts are on......


morwrds092413
i did cut that brace out. i think i can move the tank up about 1 3/4" more, refit(& weld) the brace/mount, then figure some shield.
i now see why i couldn't put much more than 10 gallons in the tank. perhaps i can get the volume back.

moreblather092713
couple of washers to drop the bumpstop a smidge.... might have been compressing enough to touch the end of the strut.

reassembled w/4door spings- we'll see.
gas tank project moving along.

suzi the psychic is getting a bit of a butt tuck.
her fuel tank had been lifted almost an inch before, now it will be moved like 2" forward, and 2" up.
I moved the front mount brace(and shortened the mount tabs some more)forward.

gluewelded some tabs for the rear.

mabe I can pop the tank back into shape........
the tank seems to fit fine. I might see if I can stiffen the stock skid.

adpic092913

just kinda straightened and reused stock skid(for now).

suzi's got back, huh? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />