Another broken front shocker

[Mal.W]

Went 4WDriving a couple of days ago to Toolangi, (Vic). Didn't notice until today when I swapped my wheels back that the drivers side shocker had broken off at the bottom eye. Broke the other side bottom eye crossing the Simpson last year.
No problems it is being replaced under warranty, but the guy at the shop believes they are breaking from the suspension expanding and the shocker running out of travel, not compacting, does this make sense?
Shockers are Tought dog 9 way adjustable.
I know from other treads that it is not just Tough Dog that break

Anybody got any thoughts on this???

Cheers

Mal

[marlinman]

Hi Mal,

i have had the same thing happen recently with the same shocks, problem is i havnt even been offroad! we had 2 cars done at the same time and so far 3 out of the 4 shocks have failed, would also like to know the cause, its the last thing we need on the back of our minds when we are away from it all!

[ultimate]

Shock length can normally play a big roll in failures, but I strongly believe the problem with the bottom eyes is coming from the bushing. The standard type of bush tends to fail which puts too much pressure on the welds and they break. That's why we use a multi-layered bush which provides the perfect amount of flexibility with binding or collapsing. Here's a thread which talks about bushing design.

viewtopic.php?f=28&t=8711&p=115125&hilit=noise#p115125

If the bush fails like this and isn't notice, you will definitely snap the strut.

Our latest struts use the next generation of the multi-layered bushings and a different stem design which has been engineered to be even more reliable.

[Hilux Max]

I have heard of a couple tough dogs on hilux fail in recent times......

[white.lux]

does anyone know what bushes the efs struts have, and how hard are the bushes to change at home?
thanks

[Jack S]

Are tough dog loosing some of there quality control?
There has been a surprisingly increase in the number of td shocks to snap...

[mattlittle]

yeh i have had it happen once as well and i have tough dog shocks on the front

[PaulC]

I was talkin to a guru at rocky ARB. He pointed out that my bushes failed and that my spring had compressed to a point where I lost about 40mm travel. He explaned to me how old man emu struts don't have these problems and said alot of brands are snapping at the eye. Went for the ome struts. Never would go tough dog

[PaulC]

Although he did say my tough dog rear suspension is good. So just the struts have been an issue.

[TrentRyan]

I heard of s similar problem on 100series IFS and it was as a result of over extension and the shock eye takes the brunt of the force and snaps. I don't understand the mechanics so maybe some one could set me straight but why would you not let the A-arm take the full extension load rather than the shocker eye seems a week link ? But as I say I know little when it comes to strut design.

[Quinny34]

Add me to the TD Front strut killed list...

Left a message on the website of thiers... will see how they respond...

"2 years, 1 month - 45,000 klms. One broken TD shocker. Broke at the bottom eyelet on a 2009 Toyota Hilux. I understand its just out of warranty but thought you should know. "

[Steve9R]

thats no good Quinny..

I pulled mine out a few months ago and put in the 3" ones from Brendan.. (spose i should advertise them cause they only have done about 8,000kms).. and look perfect..

Steve

[Quinny34]

Just got the ute back and the other shocker had the bushes almost flogged out so it wouldnt have been long for it to go either...

[bairdy380]

I am getting nervous...I have noticed a distinct "groan" coming from the front left as it articulates slowly...its not a squeak but a lower freqency...thinking I should book it in to get looked at...I am thinking a failed or failing bush!

[Quinny34]

Yeah mate... may pay to undo the bottom bolt and jack her up for a look... (And check out your hilux also )

[Quinny34]

[acdc]

It might pay to check shocker lengths, I have seen this happen before the shocker bottoms out before the bump stops come into play and breaks the bottom mount off, happens a lot when you use strut spacers.
also spring rate may be a bite light on.

[tom123456]

I had this probem on my hilux fitted with toughdog.I spoke to the boys at toughdog suspension and it turns out the front coils i had fitted lifted it to high.They also went on to explian that when you over load the rear the front does lift and this will damage the front strut.I have since travelled up north and down to tas without any problems.

[Goldminer]

Just had a look at the new tough dog shocks on a hilux looks like they might have addressed the problem of them breaking by making the rod of larger diameter and modified the shock body. Still don't know if I would trust them after my last experience.

[MADDOG]

I joined the club on the weekend.