Leaking shock…what limits droop when on a lift

[TTU03]

My drivers side bilstein B8 5100 shock is leaking. The shock has been on the truck for about ten months. Northridge has issued a warranty replacement.

The question is what limits droop when a jeep is suspended on a lift. I noticed the failed shock after getting new tires installed at Costco. Could the truck being in that lift have put too much strain on that shock causing it to fail?

I have no way to prove the leak did not happen before the tire install, but I was under the truck a week before the tire install and the shock was not leaking at that time.

I would guess that the truck with this particular shock had been on a lift at least once(probably 2 times) before the Costco tire install. Dealership did an oil change and tire rotation on previous tires.

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[Freems]

Probably just a leaking seal…the full drop of a suspension on a lift is usually controlled by full extension of the shocks, the sway bars, and the coil spring buckets holding onto the coils.

 

[OldButStillJeeping]

There are a few factors in play when it comes to droop. Not drop, but Droop.

That being said I am glad that Bilstein is sending you a new shock under warranty.

Droop is defined by 2 different classes. One is the standard droop, or drop. Such as on a shops or mechanic's lift lift when changing tires. Two is the offroad droop. When stressing the articulation in an extreme offroad situation. Jeep handles this through engineering design, unless you start adding lifts and changing shocks.

Droop is calibrated and controlled by the control arms and sway bar. And, in a bad setup, by your driveline and shocks. If your shocks control your droop they have to be serious shocks and you need limiting straps.

Your shocks need to be long enough for your lift. Your driveshaft long enough to handle the droop.

On serious offroad rigs the droop is handled by droop straps.

 

[Northridge4x4]

The shocks are what limit droop in most suspensions.

The sway bars and track bars will also contribute to that to a point, but it is typically the shock that are the ultimate limiting factor.

Will lifting a vehicle on an auto lift damage the shocks by letting the axles hang on the shocks? No.

Very different thing when the vehicle is in motion off road and the axles are banging on the shocks.

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