RS sliders help

[Houm_WA]

thorgal, I think I'm experiencing the same "clunk." It happens over fairly mild bumps...more so in fact than big bumps. Is that consistent with your experience? I provied sheet PVC to the installing shop, but they told me that the tolerances were so tight with these sliders that there would've been no way to use that stuff.

So...what was the final diagnosis of your clunking sound? Do you (or anyone else) think that it's anything that is harmful to the LR3? I can live with the clunk as long as I know it's not hurting anything.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Trynian]

I provied sheet PVC to the installing shop, but they told me that the tolerances were so tight with these sliders that there would've been no way to use that stuff.

How thick was it? The tolerances are not that tight at all. I have had these things off and on more then I can count.

If you are getting a clunk that is from the sliders then something was not installed correctly, something is loose. Are you sure it is not the bushings?

I only installed the rubber shims on mine so that I did not get the metal to metal rub on the frame. Things rust quick here on the coast.

 

[Houm_WA]

I really don't know how thick it was. What I can say is that they do not seem loose AT ALL. The clunk is so subtle that sometimes I think it sounds like something loose inside the vehicle. I'm not sure it's not the bushings but I've done some things to troubleshoot. It still clunks when my foot is on the brake, so I don't think it's bushings. I get no feedback (through the steering whel) like I would if it were bushings and it's really not consistent enough either...but then again we're talking rear bushings now and I'm not sure how those would feel when they wear out.

If the sliders are installed with 9 different fasteners and they're tight enough, I don't know that I'd worry much about metal-to-metal rubbing...but I suppose it could still remove paint and you're right about coastal environments.

 

[Trynian]

If the sliders are installed with 9 different fasteners and they're tight enough, I don't know that I'd worry much about metal-to-metal rubbing...but I suppose it could still remove paint and you're right about coastal environments.

If I was not on the coast I probably would not worry about it as much either. After the first month I took them off to inspect and the paint on the frame was gone and starting to rust. Good part about the rubber I put in is that it also keeps any creaking down when the vehicle is flexing some.

 

[Houm_WA]

...pretty much just anecdotal data all in all. At least I know that the sliders will strengthen the frame itself so even if it rusts some, it may be offset by the gain in cross-sectional area, as long as the fasteners are stout enough.