Waterfowler41

Decided to remove the windshield tint strip. Wasn’t really a fan of it and it didn’t really help too much with my morning commute into the sun. Then i decided I wanted to make a TINY adjustment to my exhaust system.... and broke the bolt for the main clamp. Sucker is really hard to fine in auto parts stores. Walker part# 36522 for anyone interested. Waterfowler 41’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/brittmork

I called rough country and they told me those forged control arms won’t with 2.5” lift. Sounds like you are having good success with them? This could be a game changer. They are decently priced. Can you share some pictures of your upper control arm angles? I’m curious how the upper ball joint looks into your wheel hub. Waterfowler 41’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/brittmork

Hope the write up is helping out with swapping shocks! Has anyone removed the struts themselves and taken them somewhere to have a shop install the springs on the new struts? Curious what the going rate for that work is. Waterfowler 41’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/brittmork

Yup had some rusty rim bolts on my methods, 8 months and replaced them twice. Waterfowler 41’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/brittmork

Shouldn’t really come as a surprise for most of you, filmed the install of those Oznium lights. Waterfowler 41’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/brittmork

Installed my Oznium led “raptor” lights. Also removed my front amazon special light bars. Very happy with how the front end is shaping up. Just need to color match that grill surround. Roughed in before wiring Waterfowler 41’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/brittmork

That why i was going to use a step bit, not a huge edge to catch the grill, I have a dremel but thought the step would give me a nice hole. Waterfowler 41’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/brittmork

Joining the cool kids club soon. Picked up 3 Oznium flush mount LEDs for raptor style grill lights. Should look pretty slick in the Grill craft grill. I was planning to use a step bit to slowly drill out each hole in the mesh. Anyone have a better recommendation to drill a nice clean hole in metal mesh? Close up view of the mesh. Need to drill 3 11mm holes. Waterfowler 41’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/brittmork

Ugh....it’s back but on the passenger side now so warranty time.... Waterfowler 41’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/brittmork

They were the wrong bolts for my LCA to lower strut mount connection when moving to the Eibach kit. Don't know if they are wrong for all applications. I ended up buying grade 8 - 7/16 bolts that were 2.5" long. Also used flange nuts to hold things tight along with a generous amount of loctite.

Found my knocking in the front suspension this weekend!!!! The bolts I used for the bottom strut were the wrong diameter, these are bolts I replaced when i upgraded from the RC kit to the Eibachs. I brought the bolts from the RC kit to the store and matched diameter not knowing that were wrong. Lesson learned, verify your bolt lengths & diameters!!! I’m pretty sure the diameter change issue is related to the fact that I haven’t used those bottom strut mount clips since before my RC level... anyways knocking found and fixed. Old bolts slid into old struts to show that the wear marks line up with the LCA mount. Like a new truck!! Waterfowler 41’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/brittmork

Morale was very low in the garage.... Waterfowler 41’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/brittmork

Welp I think i found the culprit!!!! If you watch my eibach install video I mentioned that I previously had a rough country kit. When i upgraded to the eibach kit I replaced the lower bolts with grade 8 bolts of the same diameter. While swapping struts today I noticed a lot of slop in the lower bolts once loosened. Before reinstalling the bolts I ran to the hardware store and grabbed new grade 8 bolts a diameter size larger (7/16”). Turns out those fit PERFECTLY through the lower strut mount and the lower control arm. Even looking at the original bolts I had (3/8” I’m guessing, you can see the zinc coating was worn off right where they passed through the lower control arm. So in short, my lower bolt diameter was too small because I wasn’t using those stock nut clips! Pictures below showing the wear marks. Crossing my fingers this was the issue!!! I slipped them into my old struts to illustrate my point. Waterfowler 41’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/brittmork

Swapping struts tonight.... getting very fast at removing all this stuff... Waterfowler 41’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/brittmork

Spoke to Eibach yesterday, I’m going to flip flop my struts to see if the sound follows the strut. If it does they things it’s a failed seal if not....then I’m trading my truck in... Waterfowler 41’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/brittmork

Just bought some KC cyclone lights. Not sure what I’m going to do with them yet. They are buy one get one with the following coupon code. KCSCYCBOGO https://www.kchilites.com/light-type/led/cyclone.html Waterfowler 41’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/brittmork

Tried the nut this weekend it was too long BUT I can see some benefits. The base of the nut is wide and fills the top of the strut plate in well where as the nylock nut from eibach is small and leaves some slop. Not sure if that’s what is causing my issue but might try to find a wider nut to see if it helps. Waterfowler 41’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/brittmork

I’ll check my old struts but for some reason I think my eibach has a wider main shaft. Definitely worth trying thought because I’m running out of ideas... Waterfowler 41’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/brittmork

Is that the nut on top of the strut shaft or the 3 mounting nuts from the strut top plate? Waterfowler 41’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/brittmork

Every night I get a little closer... I have grade 8 bolts in there now. I took each bolt out and still heard the noise but fairly confident the knock is coming from the strut. Need an extra set of hands to feel around to see if we can locate the source of the knocking Waterfowler 41’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/brittmork

While changing my oil I was looking around a little more, found that if I hang from my lower control around and rock up and down, I can hear/feel knocking from the strut.... removed and retighted the lower mounting bolts still hear knocking. Waiting for a call back from Eibach. Starting to think it’s a strut issue... Waterfowler 41’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/brittmork

Actually, I came across a video where the guy had a suspension knocking and it turned out to be a bad mount. I checked the exhaust and pretty much everything in the general vicinity of the front suspension, no obvious impact areas. Pulled the skid plate off and checked up there too. Haven't had an opportunity to dig too deep into the mounts, hopefully tonight. Brought the truck to Firestone twice this week for them to look it over. They confirmed UCA, tie rod ends, hubs, and CVs are in good shape and not cause of issue. They can hear the sound but say its not related to the usually suspects. I cannot replicate the sound by bouncing the truck, I have to drive and hit small sharp bumps to hear it. Also, have to drive less than 20 mph so I am wondering if its the strut. I put in a call to Dave Cortez at Eibach. I saw a brief post on a Colorado forum about a front end knock which sounds similar to mine. I joke with my wife that fic for this issue is trading in the truck because I am beyond frustrated trying to find this noise. Its so loud and obvious, I can't believe its taking me this long to find the source.

Still chasing that knocking up front.... New sway bar end links New sway bushing New lower ball joint Lower ball joints suck... Waterfowler 41’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/brittmork

Spent the night fighting to get the stock lower ball joint out. Finished this morning, took it for a test drive and.....still have the knocking... on a plus side I have a new lower ball joint and was able to inspect everything including my wheel bearing and CV axles. Waterfowler 41’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/brittmork

Update: last night i removed the wheel and popped my UCA off. No slop in the UCA. They could probably benefit from replacement but I think I’ve isolated the issue to my lower ball joint. When I load the lower control arm (jack up truck from LCA) I can here a metal to metal noise every time I lift the hub assembly straight up. Had my wife keep moving it and saw the Lower ball joint boot moving a bit. Going to purchase some Moog ball joints (if i replace it on one side, I’m going to do both sides) and see if that solves the issue. I’ll keep the updates coming as I’m sure I won’t be the only one running into this issue. Waterfowler 41’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/brittmork