TheVagabondMBA
Observer
This weekend was pretty productive. I was able to get the front struts and springs installed, picked up some recovery items (D-rings, recovery strap, mobile compressor/jump starter/inverter, shovel, gas can, cargo bin), worked on my Harley and went out to the desert for some rock hounding and a shakedown run on the Brolander.
Unfortunately, the HL spent its first 7 years in harsh D.C. winters and Florida rain storms and has plenty of rust to show for it. The bolts that were holding on the strut were so rusted out that we couldn't get them out with an impact the first day. We ended up just spraying penetrating compound on the all the bolts for about half an hour and put the wheels back on til the next day. The rust also got the rotors pretty good, so instead of trying to resurface them I just ordered all new ones and will wait to install my pads until they come in.
I didn't get any pictures of the "during" process of the build because I just wanted to get them done. I opted to just do the front suspension for now since I didn't get the right springs for the rear. I didn't feel like taking the time to replace the rear strut using the OEM spring if I was just going to have to redo it when the correct King Springs arrived. The rear struts should be replaced the front struts NEEDED to be replaced (the strut mount bearing on both sides were completely demolished and the passenger side strut was pretty warn). However, after driving around on the King Springs all I can say is they are SUPER STIFF. I’ve driven a lot of different cars with a lot of different suspension set ups (2001 Subaru Impreza RS on Eibach pros and KYB’s, 1969 C10 both with a 2” lift and 33” mudders and then eventually a 5/7” drop on 14’s, 2007 Mazda 3 with Tein Coilovers, 91 CRX with almost every coilover kit you can think of), and these springs are some of the stiffest. All of that too say I’m not sure if I want the rear to be that stiff too. So now I’m trying to decide if I should just keep the stock height in the back with the OEM springs and only lift the front or if I should just say whatever and go for it. I’m going to see how it handles during my camping trip this week to decide what I should do from there.
Also, I just ordered five 17x7 Cragar steelies to mount my A/T tires to (https://www.summitracing.com/parts/crr-83-7714/overview/)
Unfortunately, I’m outta funds right now since I’ve also decided to rebuild my Harely while also trying to rebuild by HL so the wheels will be sitting w/o tires until I get paid again. However, I did install new bars, new fork boots, new brake pads, new sissy bar, new rear shocks, rebuilt the carb, changed the fluids and started custom fabbing my new 2-1 exhaust.
Unfortunately, the HL spent its first 7 years in harsh D.C. winters and Florida rain storms and has plenty of rust to show for it. The bolts that were holding on the strut were so rusted out that we couldn't get them out with an impact the first day. We ended up just spraying penetrating compound on the all the bolts for about half an hour and put the wheels back on til the next day. The rust also got the rotors pretty good, so instead of trying to resurface them I just ordered all new ones and will wait to install my pads until they come in.
I didn't get any pictures of the "during" process of the build because I just wanted to get them done. I opted to just do the front suspension for now since I didn't get the right springs for the rear. I didn't feel like taking the time to replace the rear strut using the OEM spring if I was just going to have to redo it when the correct King Springs arrived. The rear struts should be replaced the front struts NEEDED to be replaced (the strut mount bearing on both sides were completely demolished and the passenger side strut was pretty warn). However, after driving around on the King Springs all I can say is they are SUPER STIFF. I’ve driven a lot of different cars with a lot of different suspension set ups (2001 Subaru Impreza RS on Eibach pros and KYB’s, 1969 C10 both with a 2” lift and 33” mudders and then eventually a 5/7” drop on 14’s, 2007 Mazda 3 with Tein Coilovers, 91 CRX with almost every coilover kit you can think of), and these springs are some of the stiffest. All of that too say I’m not sure if I want the rear to be that stiff too. So now I’m trying to decide if I should just keep the stock height in the back with the OEM springs and only lift the front or if I should just say whatever and go for it. I’m going to see how it handles during my camping trip this week to decide what I should do from there.
Also, I just ordered five 17x7 Cragar steelies to mount my A/T tires to (https://www.summitracing.com/parts/crr-83-7714/overview/)
Unfortunately, I’m outta funds right now since I’ve also decided to rebuild my Harely while also trying to rebuild by HL so the wheels will be sitting w/o tires until I get paid again. However, I did install new bars, new fork boots, new brake pads, new sissy bar, new rear shocks, rebuilt the carb, changed the fluids and started custom fabbing my new 2-1 exhaust.
