Jumped out expecting to see carnage, and at first glance, I sure as hell did. Lower coil laying in the dirt and shaft just hanging there naked.
Thinking it was sheared off I inspected and found that the threads were all intact and no evidence of breakage.
Lower mount still bolted to the axle housing, hardware all good.
lower eyelet in place but staring me straight in the face. fingerblasted the inside and threads felt just fine.
Inspected the shaft and noted that the threads were all road grimed out as if they hadn't been properly threaded into the eyelet.
Eyelet has lots of depth available, but I could tell by looking that the shaft was not seated, or had not been seated for a long time, if ever.
No evidence of loctite on that threaded portion of the shaft either.
No time to pontificate on that at the time, but interested to hear what you all have to say/think about that.
Props to my guys at Richer who have already contacted King and got a new lower eyelet (at no charge from King so kudos to them for that) and got me checked out and back on the road already, but damned if that isn't some scary shit!
I think of that thing coming apart on me while doing some of the riskier terrain and speed at which I operate and it chills my blood.
I got lucky here. escaping without ruining my co dawg or my own health obvious #1, but also all the variables in the front end that could have been trashed.
That's some crazy stuff and makes me wonder if enough care was taken in QC, especially when you're talking equipment like 14" travel 3.0 IBP that those guys at King have to expect is going to be pushed. This ain't no fucking mallcrawl broverlander rooftop tent bolt on shock package eh?
Anyhow, bygones and all that- how bout the fun part?
How TF do I get this bitch back to pavement and meet the AAA chasetruck without calling my boys at S&R Towing (The MEN BTW!) to come rescue me @ 200 an hour?
Necessity is the mother of all invention so here's your carnage and MacGuyver pics all in one hahah!!!
Ran her at an excruciating glacially slow pace the entire way back while my codawg jumped in the raptor and took hot laps around me for the next couple hours.
At least the boys had some fun!
Without further ado: custom fabricated, 100% locally sourced, organically grown shock package! (yes, it will hang in the garage FOREVER!)