Broke the Calmini Kit Today

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Eric P

Bought an X
Location
Colorado
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Happened on Grizzly Lake near St. Elmo in Colorado on the way down.

Met up with Hattrik21 to do this trail. Unfortunately he couldn't make it up the 1st obstacle, so we split ways. This trail has been beat up quite a bit.
Near the top, I smacked the drivers side just above the rear window.

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On the way back down, I heard the usual noises except when dropping off a boulder. I though it was something binding in the drive train as if felt like the brakes were slammed for a split second before the loud clunk. Didn't think nothing of it afterwards as there were no unusual sounds. It just sounded like when the plastic coil bucket gets hung up on the adjustment threads, but a bit amplified.

Then I went on Tincup and I started hearing a noise similar to the sound you get from trying to steer past steering lock every time there was pressure on the left front. Looked at the steering and unlocked the hubs. The noise went away, so I was thinking the clunk on Grizzly may have been a hub or something in axle breaking. It would make the noise when in 4 lo with the hub unlocked also.

Caught up with Hattrik21 at Mirror Lake and we made our way to the top of Cottonwood Pass. Started looking a bit and saw the cracked radius arm while airing up. Reasoned to myself it was safe to drive 120 miles back home since the other side was in tact.

Made it home with no issues. Couldn't feel anything to indicate it was broke.

So no more wheeling until this is fixed.
 
Slasa

Slasa

Lockers Installed
Location
Denver
Oh man. Sorry I couldn't join you guys today and sorry about the trail damage.
Any idea how long until you are up and running again? I guess not since you have some work to do to get repaired. I hope you can get out for some more runs this year.
 
gorillamel

gorillamel

Lockers Installed
Founding Member
Location
Idaho!
Wow, that's no bueno. At least you eventually figured out what the problem was before it got any worse. Good luck on the fix!
 
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Eric P

Bought an X
Location
Colorado
Other than no sway bar and running tires that are 2 inches larger, everything else is as recommended by Calmini. I don't see how a larger tire changes the suspension geometry and travel. I could see it affecting the internals of the axle. I wouldn't even say I pushed the truck much beyond what I was comfortable doing with the IFS.

I'll give them a call to see what they can do. If its something quick I will do that in the short term. Summers are to short in Colorado to not be wheeling.

Maybe one of these days we can come up with a solution to be installed this winter.
 
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Eric P

Bought an X
Location
Colorado
Josh, not arguing with you about it being different, I still can't picture how larger tires can make that much of a difference. The suspension would have the same travel with 33s. The coil adjusters are set as high as they can go without loosing contact with the coils when fully extended. I can see how longer coil-overs add force with larger differential travel.

But anyway, if Calmini says it will take a while to get a new arm, how soon could we install one of the options that you and Kevin have? I would like to go on a few more trips this summer. And being a guberment employee with a ton of leave in the bank, we can do it during the week if needed.
 
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Eric P

Bought an X
Location
Colorado
I want to add that Calmini called me before I had a chance to call them. They have sent a set a updated arms that are sitting in Allen's garage. I have been tied up at work (Colorado flood recovery efforts at CDOT) and am in no rush to swap them in.
 
xterraminator

xterraminator

Wheeling
Location
Maple Ridge,BC
I know this is an old post but when I first looked at the picture its VERY evident how this broke. Look where the radius arm is located on the lower control arm. Any proper radius arm set-up usually has the short arm welded further up the longer control arm. This one is almost at the cleavite bushing. Should be about 6-8" back further to the truck. Look at how "clayton offroad" does theirs. Hope you got it working. I would not drive with the way you have it set up.
 
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Cyclemut

Cyclemut

Wheeling
Founding Member
Location
Morrison, CO
The new arms have more bracing. If you don't want to drive it like that, don't put the kit on your truck.

Eric does just fine with his rig. If I ever give it back to him.
 
Cyclemut

Cyclemut

Wheeling
Founding Member
Location
Morrison, CO
Building a winch bumper, swapping out those arms (with the updated Calmini units) and fixing a u-joint. The owner of the CNC plasma cutter is a genius (not me, a friend) and just put the pieces together. Just taking a while to get it all done.
 
Xterrafauss

Xterrafauss

Suspension Lift
Location
Jacksonville Florida
Cyclemut said:
Building a winch bumper, swapping out those arms (with the updated Calmini units) and fixing a u-joint. The owner of the CNC plasma cutter is a genius (not me, a friend) and just put the pieces together. Just taking a while to get it all done.
Click to expand...


........I really wish I knew you guys when I was living in CO haha.

On a side note I do believe I saw this rig in the parking lot of the gun store off Arapahoe Rd. I talked to the owner for a few seconds but was eye fu*k*ng the rig for a few minutes before
 
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Eric P

Bought an X
Location
Colorado
Well everything worked great. But after Hell's Revenge, when I was showing someone the new arms, we saw a crack forming on the weld that holds the radius arm bracket to the axle on the passenger side.
Moab 4x4 Outpost re-welded It the next morning and I didn't miss day of trails. Had to run a different trail because of the start times.
 
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Eric P

Bought an X
Location
Colorado
Good talking with you a bit while you hitched a ride on MM.

Can you post a picture of the flexing coming off that rock?

Thanks
 
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