Spring hanger/shock mount skid plate

[Hunner]

I can have these made now. I lost a long post I was going to send and Im out of time. The simple fact is I got screwed on the ones I bought. They are not wide enough to do the job. So I am going to have these made.
NO paint. I could but would add to the price. Finish anyway you would like. When I get a tenative idea of the number I can sell I will bite the bullet and get a batch run. I will send the pictures of the front and mine mounted just as soon as I get them. Then take orders.

A pair with the front pieces will be $150 including shipping.

(don't make this complicated by wanting to bust up the set) I will charge $150 with or without. There is not much point in not putting on the front ones. The front ones will have to be tacked welded to save a lot of work. These are not bling so if you wheel on rocks you will wish you had them before you crush something.

I have to buy boxes and packing and take them to UPS
every time I ship. I don't do this for a living. Just trying to be a help to other frustrated Hummer owners.
Check all of my other posts. They will be one inch wider to protect the shock bolt. The front ones have a radius curve on the back and are wide enough to protect the mount.
It would help if I got some idea of how many upfront I could sell. They want me to get 10 pairs to start. If I could speculate and get more I might trim the price. It is a small run for them and they are really being nice to take it on. The owner is a wheeler from the past and understands our frustration.

[Jeff G]

Any pics of the whole set yet?:excited:

[RuggedH2]

Post up some pics, I would probably take a set off your hands.

[lotus4s]

Post up some pics, I would probably take a set off your hands.


Yeah, what he said.....:iagree:

[Hunner]

Great! I can see the interest starting. Im really tired of being taken by the big guys and thought this was one way I could help ease the pain for others. I made a set from scratch and saw how time consuming that would be to make a bunch. I hope to meet Monday with the fab shop. (again) Im going to hopefully get a set soon so I can shoot pictures. I want everybody to see what they are getting. The spring shackle lower plate has a protrusion in the center that makes it necessary to have the brackets split, similiar to the other ones I have seen. We are laser cutting a slit for alignment and to weld under the brackets for strength. (I have tested brand "A") The spacing of the bolts makes that a given as well. Which means by design they have to be a particular size and shape.
I said before the main improvement and difference is basically one of the primary reasons for the plate and that is to protect the shock bolt head and bottom of the shock. This requires a full inch wider plate along the inside edge.
It may be cheaper to just go ahead and get the 20 sets he wants me to commit to when he sets up to run. The biggest cost seems to be for time. I hope to get pictures of the laser process and press operation.
I want to help those that bought brand "A" so I may see if I can get extra front ones run at the same time.
I will post just as soon as I get them.
Buck fever around here has slowed the process. They should be out on our trails. (NOT) I see deer all the time. Im glad they can't hunt out there I would have to have an orange Hummer!

[Gottmud]

Count me in for a set.

[garnerbiker]

I'm good for a set as well. Pics would be nice.

[ChasH3]

Pictures please...

[Hunner]

Im working on it. I took the mock up back Monday and he is supposed to email me a 3D cad drawing for approval. Look in all the other posts and the rear lower skid looks like the brand "A" but 1 inch wider and welded differently to be stronger. The front one is radiused to fit around the mount and taper back. I know Im excited about getting them. I will post the pictures of the real thing the day I get them. I bought some boxes and packing today.

[garnerbiker]

drewl..........

thanks for your work on this. we cant wait to see what you have come up with.

[Arkie 355]

Put me down for a set also.

[Hunner]

Great. Im going to call the guy and jack him up. Thanks that makes me feel like it will be worthwhile to get 20 sets to start. I need mine now!
Let me know if you ever come up to the Superlift park. I know you got mud down in hope, right? I ordered some Mickey Thompson Baja MTX tires just so I can play in the mud.

[garnerbiker]

Do you have sketches that we can see? Anything? :D

[Hunner]

Yeah it looks sort of like this only 1 inch wider towards the inside under the shock and more radiused on the big end. Im sorry as you are this guy is backed up. Im going to pay a drop in visit there in a few minutes. Hang on.

[garnerbiker]

How's this guy doing? Are we going to have to wait till Jan or later? Let us know when you get an update.

[jp's-h3]

Count me in!
:beerchug:

[Hunner]

I got excited about getting them made and probably posted all that too soon. I wanted to find out if it was going to be something worthwhile. He swears he is going to get on it. Its a big place and I see lots of product moving. Im going up today to get the one I left up there back. Im going wheeling this weekend and I would feel exposed with out it. Im running my reinforced rock rails also for the first time. You guys hang in there I want them as bad as you do and Im trying not to get pushy and stay on the good side of this guy. Although that is not my nature. Thats why I got on the rails myself.

[wpage]

Im interested but want to know more. Can these go on without any added mods to existing systems like steering, supspension, etc. Will the guy making them assure the welds for some period of time? If so count me in:beerchug:

[Hunner]

These don't interfere with anything. They really are only slightly below the end of the ubolts. The welds will be industry standard deep burn mig welds which will be the strongest part. You could possibly bend one some if hit right but it would do its job. I think 3/8 would be a little much and would require longer ubolts.
Here is a good shot of why I am including the front piece. Under that loose stuff is a big rock.

[Hunner]

I actually found this on another forum after I asked if anyone had problems without them on trips to famous places on this forum. I guess the name should remain anonymous because the reply was they did not have any problems. It is a real good example of what you will have to fix in addition to a shock on the trail if you really smash it up.:popcorn:

[Hunner]

Here is a fresh shot with one on and one off. The one that is on is the design that needs to be 1 inch wider towards the inside to protect the bolt head. They will both be wider. Im trying to say brand "A" was not wide enough and the radius on the back turned up part is more so as not to stick out as much. Anybody see anything else missing?? You can also see my added 3/8 by three inch strip I added under the Rocky Road rock rails. I posted a shot on the thread but will stick it in here.

[Hunner]

Just to keep interest up here is another in the field. Sorry for the dirt, not!

[Hunner]

Added rail

[Hunner]

I think from posts here in classified and some pm's and emails I got that some people did not see the thread when it started. I moved it here when I thought I was about to have some and the people that were thinking about it would find the info. I will get them I have made a list and checked it twice, ho ho Please be patient boys and girls. :excited: Im really trying. Sorry for any confusion. It all started back here:

http://www.elcovaforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20673&highlight=skid+plates

[RuggedH2]

Cool. Good pics, I'll take a set when they're ready, let us know.

[Hunner]

Added rail
Must have been tired when I added this one. That is the added rail I put on my Rocky Road Rock Rails say that three times real fast. Its not part of the spring shackle set Im not sure if I was going to add that on another thread eerr whut? Anyway I wanted to share that idea.

[Jeff G]

Must have been tired when I added this one. That is the added rail I put on my Rocky Road Rock Rails say that three times real fast. Its not part of the spring shackle set Im not sure if I was going to add that on another thread eerr whut? Anyway I wanted to share that idea.

Any idea on when these will be ready??:beerchug:

[Hunner]

Tuesday in the morning Im going up there and beg! They should be getting back into work mode. When I approve the first ones he said it would take a day, what day I dont know. Real bad timing when I started all this. I think the wait will be worth it. Im keeping two sets for me. Slow just like all H3 products.

[Hunner]

Progress. I took the tour today and saw the laser cutting out patterns. They have the program done for the skids. Im pushing as hard as I dare. I will post a picture of a pile of them when I get them.
It says I can attach a pdf file but nothing happens. Sorry, I was going to show the cad drawing. Maybe too big? 179 kb

[DRTYFN]

Put me down for a set also.
Sure thing, Shawn from Angry Iron. Don't try to use an AE to pimp something. I hate when people do this.:mad:

[yat74]

Any progress yet? :popcorn:

[garnerbiker]

lets get these things rockin!

How many people are really going to get them? Let's get a real count and maybe he will get motivated to churn them out.

I'm in!

[stagger_lee]

Bumpski :beerchug:

[HummBebe]

Progress. I took the tour today and saw the laser cutting out patterns. They have the program done for the skids. Im pushing as hard as I dare. I will post a picture of a pile of them when I get them.
It says I can attach a pdf file but nothing happens. Sorry, I was going to show the cad drawing. Maybe too big? 179 kb

Bring up the CAD drawing, press "print screen", open Imaging, select new, right click, paste, trim, save as and post.


DO NOW!!!! :giggling:

[Demo]

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

[Hunner]

Yeah I know I too am frustrated. I go every Thursday and try to get an answer. Its always a friendly, "Im running the machine 24/7 and I will work it in." I tried several other places and they did not want to mess with it. I told him I will buy 40 each which will be 20 sets. It will either happen or not. I will keep trying. If they just cut them out I have a friend that builds race car frames that can weld them, he does awesome welds, but that would add cost. The way its set up the laser cuts a slot for the brackets to fit in so it is lined up and stronger. He just has not found a time to stop production to stick these in the machine. Sorry Im trying. H2o could Im sure make them. This was just a fast, haha, easy way to mass produce them and I was trying to help everybody with minimum cost. If there is a better way to do this or if Im violating any forum rules just let me know. From what I have seen its pretty much anything goes. If no one else is making something like this except maybe Amstar, which my dealer does not do business with, how can they have an opinion? Am I missing something? I saw what I understand to be negative feelings. I finally got the image to work by saving in paint and converting to jpg. I think this is a more functional design although similar in appearence, as stated before it has to go in one place determined by the design of the H3. As I have stated before this is a full inch wider and covers the shock mounting bolt and lower shackle plate. I also radiused the corners more. It has a gusset under the brackets. I also included the front ones. The others only covered the ends of the ubolts.
Maybe I will just haul a pile of them out to MOAB break out the impact and we can have a mass transformagation of H3's!! This what I get for being a nice guy.

[RuggedH2]

Hunner,

Don't worry about negative.

That looks like a great design. I will buy them when you get them made, if April in Moab looks possible then bring them! I would be happy to break out the wrenches in the parking lot there.

They look like they will slide over rocks much better than the lower shackle plate and bolts will! That's all I care about.:beerchug:

[HummBebe]

Yeah I know I too am frustrated. I go every Thursday and try to get an answer. Its always a friendly, "Im running the machine 24/7 and I will work it in." I tried several other places and they did not want to mess with it. I told him I will buy 40 each which will be 20 sets. It will either happen or not. I will keep trying. If they just cut them out I have a friend that builds race car frames that can weld them, he does awesome welds, but that would add cost. The way its set up the laser cuts a slot for the brackets to fit in so it is lined up and stronger. He just has not found a time to stop production to stick these in the machine. Sorry Im trying. H2o could Im sure make them. This was just a fast, haha, easy way to mass produce them and I was trying to help everybody with minimum cost. If there is a better way to do this or if Im violating any forum rules just let me know. From what I have seen its pretty much anything goes. If no one else is making something like this except maybe Amstar, which my dealer does not do business with, how can they have an opinion? Am I missing something? I saw what I understand to be negative feelings. I finally got the image to work by saving in paint and converting to jpg. I think this is a more functional design although similar in appearence, as stated before it has to go in one place determined by the design of the H3. As I have stated before this is a full inch wider and covers the shock mounting bolt and lower shackle plate. I also radiused the corners more. It has a gusset under the brackets. I also included the front ones. The others only covered the ends of the ubolts.
Maybe I will just haul a pile of them out to MOAB break out the impact and we can have a mass transformagation of H3's!! This what I get for being a nice guy.

Send me the drawing via PM. I'll send it to H2O guy, and we'll get them made up.

[Demo]

Send me the drawing via PM. I'll send it to H2O guy, and we'll get them made up.


DO NOW!!!
:iagree: X1billions

[Crash ?]

Send me the drawing via PM. I'll send it to H2O guy, and we'll get them made up.

Da woman has some pull huh..?? Next we'll see pics of these being made and other folks parts still stacked in the corners collecting dust...:jump:

[Hunner]

I went up there Thursday and the owner was "in training" on the laser with a rep. Word was he was tooling up another machine. I was told he would have me two sets of prototype to install and check out next week. Dont hold your breath. This is the best way to make large quantities and keep the price down. The guy just overloaded his ass with work. Reminds me of micro management when I "was" working for someone in a galaxy far far away thankfully that's over.:popcorn:

[Hunner]

Steel shipment came in. I went by today and 30 sets are cut out. They are in line for the break press and then to the welder. Anyday I will post a picture of the big pile when I actually have them and then send out info to those on my list. Its happening!!!!!

[Demo]

Bring it on!

[timgco]

Put me down for a set please. What do you think the ETA is?

[Hunner]

As usual they will not say. I go in there and see the pallets of product so they are turning out a lot of things. Im hoping it will all get bent Wednesday and Thursday and hopefully get the welding done first part of next week. This has been a long process because of their production schedule. Im just glad he worked it in, finally. It was a little sideline product for them. I got you down. Im getting close to the number spoken for equal to the number I had made. I expect some may drop out. After all this happens I might get another small run made. I want some extra in case somebody "abuses" one ha ha

[Hunner]

Pssst if you read this I may have some good news tomorrow. Stay tuned

[RuggedH2]

I've heard this before. :D JK!

Cool, I'm looking forward to slapping those babies on!

[Hunner]

Well I actually touched them today! They said, hmmmm, they would weld them tomorrow and stamp the front ones. I will post a picture of them piled up and then get addresses from everyone. You are on the list my friend. Stay tuned.

[Hunner]

They say a pit-chure is worth a thousand words. Im not sure I know a thousand words anymore so here.

1secondwind@comcast.net
email your physical address to receive UPS ground
Cashier's check for $150 (I will send my address to those that reply)
I will send out to the guys that spoke up first and go till I run out.

Finally! Git-er-done slap um on. I will include some suggested procedures.

[Hunner]

I welded my front ones on today and Im going out to test them in the outdoor lab.

[Hunner]

They can be welded on the outside edge and front. I will see if I can tear one off. Ok I will quietly disappear now thanks.

[Demo]

THAT'S GREAT!! I will send you a check in the morning, can't wait to get these on.

:beerchug:

[garnerbiker]

HELLZ YEA!!!!!

DO IT UP!

Thanks for the work.

[Hunner]

I found one oddity. The frame is high strength steel, a good thing. It really needs to be TIG welded. You can use MIG but have to really crank up the heat and do it in little bursts. It's a square wave queer ion polarity gey molecules thingy and there will also be an eclipse of the moon this weekend, Im not sure what that has to do with welding but I know it is an unatural act to hold a live wire between an endless power supply and ground!! Then squirt inert gases at the same time. DISCONNECT THE NEGATIVE BATTERY LEAD FIRST!
I just blinged my front ones with silver paint and Im running over to Superlift to shoot some pictures and do some field testing, I love my job!!
Did I mention DISCONNECT THE NEGATIVE BATTEY LEAD FIRST??

[Hunner]

See all the testing I do. I usually try to miss these lines but here I am trying to be in the wrong place! ha ha I must go back tomorrow I need to guide so maybe I can lead some Jeeps thru here and see what happens.

[timgco]

PM sent!:beerchug:

[CrisB]

I called my service manager for suggestions when I welded up my UCP, he said to disconnect the POSITIVE battery cable & let it sit for 15 minutes so the modules do an auto shut down. Don't bake your system!!!

Nice job Hunner, can't wait to get mine on!

[timgco]

PM sent!:beerchug:


DId you get my PM?

[Hunner]

You have to be careful because they make you feel bullet proof after running nekked for so long. You might do something crazy!!!!

[Hunner]

DId you get my PM?

Yah I thought I replied but I just did again.
Im going to Sedona Thursday and maybe stop by Moab for a snow run the next weekend. I may have to take vitamins.

[Hunner]

I called my service manager for suggestions when I welded up my UCP, he said to disconnect the POSITIVE battery cable & let it sit for 15 minutes so the modules do an auto shut down. Don't bake your system!!!

Nice job Hunner, can't wait to get mine on!

Probably will be best to just disconnect both have a few beers and call me in the morning. Since I was grounding the welder to the frame I did not want any juice flowin thru the system. Just my boddddyyyy does welding cause brain damage?? Make you wanna drive over rocks and in the mud, yep I got it............ddrain bamage

[Demo]

Hunner, I sent you a Cashiers Check today via Priority mail. Hopefully it get there quickly.

Thanks,
Alex

[HummBebe]

DId you get my PM Hunner?

[Hunner]

I have received a LOT but I don't see one from you. Send it again there was an eclipse Saturday night and it might have warped the time melinium. ha ha

[HummBebe]

Oh wait, I sent you and e mail.....

[Hunner]

HA HA your not older than me surely? That kind of stuff is normal for me. I dont see any email either. Try again, Im telling you it was the eclipse. Are you going under a nefarious name? I will be here until 5am Thursday and Im blasting off for Sedona.
1secondwind@comcast.net

[Huck BB62]

Hunner, is there a way to make the fronts bolt on too instead of weld-ons? That big honkin' shock bolt is right there after all. Just an idear.

[Hunner]

There would have to be two side plates, remake the plate more narrow to have it flush with the front hanger and of course you would have to remove the gas tank and skid plate to get the bolt out because they put it in from that side. No problem if you got the time. You could cut down the plate and weld on a side piece on both sides and drill for the bolt, or five minutes of welding this design. Trust me or not. I was for the easy route.

[timgco]

HOLLLLLLYYYYYY HELLLLLLLLLL!

These things are tough!!!! I expected some skids, but I got SKIDS!

:perfect10s: GREAT JOB!:perfect10s:

[timgco]

OK, so now I have the skids, have the shock skids painted and ready to install. I don;t think I can just remove the four bolts? or can I. I'm guessing that you cannot just remove them and need to get the axle jacked up to take the weight off of the springs?

[Hunner]

I replied in your pm but I guess I should throw out something here. Jack up the frame and let the suspension droop. I placed a second jack under the spring leaving enough room for the new plate so when I removed the nuts I could control the spring from dropping too much and be able to jack it back up. Make sure the locator pin lines up on the axle tube. It has everytime I have done it. I used a bottle hydraulic jack to push the shock back up and then knocked it over to the plate. You will have a new respect for so called "stock shocks" if you try to push it up by hand. Ask for help and borrow enough jacks. Use jack stands. Retorque nuts. I put loc-tite on mine. I can do it pretty easy but I have had practice. Plenty

[timgco]

Thanks for both replies. I'll make sure to take pics and do a write up as i go..

[garnerbiker]

Hunner is THE MAN!

I got 'em yesterday and have the big ones at the powdercoating shop. THey should be done on Friday for an install on Sat.

Thanks for taking action on this! We love ya!

Now,,lets get the beefed up rear bumper going.

[RuggedH2]

Hunner did an outstanding job with those skids. I don't think he made enough of them.

Something tells me you better place another order with the machine shop Hunner. These skids are well made and priced better than anything similar out there. They cover the part of the truck that is the lowest point for clearance.

Great product for the money, and good thinking and initiative on your part.

Between these skids, and the winch mount by Burkhalter that I bought, Elcova forums has really come through with some killer shiat! :cool:

[Huck BB62]

I see your point on the gas tank Hunner. What a pain. This stuff should be on there from the factory, good job Hunner and shame on Amstar for trying to screw Hummer owners to the wall. I'm serious, all that bullsheot talk about going through engineering, then letting the dealer step on it for yet another markup. A big company running around in circles now for TWO YEARS and Hunner gitserdone in a month.:beerchug: They should look in the mirror and laugh at themselves.

I'm laid up with a surgery so I'm not ordering anything for any reason, but once I get back on my feet, I will Hunner. I just wanted to say "Job well done" and thanks for showing self important do nothings that want to screw Hummer owners like Amstar how it's done.

What's next? Roof racks for $400 that make Gobi look silly?:giggling:

[Crash ?]

shame on Amstar for trying to screw Hummer owners to the wall. I'm serious, all that bullsheot talk about going through engineering, then letting the dealer step on it for yet another markup. A big company running around in circles now for TWO YEARS and Hunner gitserdone in a month.:beerchug: They should look in the mirror and laugh at themselves.

Keep one thing in mind with this stuff.. Large corporations at make safety/protective gear or anything that changes major parts of a vehicle are going to be subject to a LOT of scrutiny from the public and the DOT.. They have to keep unreal amounts of liability insurance, because if it's proven that even ONE of those skids fails in some way and causes an accident.. Look out.. Ambulance chasers are going to be dug in on AmStar and GM like an Alabama tick on a coon dog..

With the buddy system that Hunner's provided, good luck chasing down who did what.. All he's gotta do is shrug and say, "Man the guy that made those did it in his back yard shop and he died 2 years ago, wish I could recall his name.. I think it was Ed.."

[RuggedH2]

Liability is real.

Amstar could get sued and does require the insurance. That doesn't mean their product is built better or has superior engineering, it just means their insurance company lawyers will step in to defend the product in court before paying out any claims.

I'm not concerned about the quality of these skids, they are obviously built well. The plate on the spring that holds the u-bolts, is still in place, torqued to spec.

My friends Jeeps are sometimes welded back together on the trail. They have numerous parts on them that could not be "tracked down", or are "purpose built". They take those rigs on stuff I would not attempt.

It's too bad we live in such a litigious society. Any product can break, especially when we subject those products to the abuses of off roading.

[Huck BB62]

You're talking about a skid plate for a shock absorber.

I completely understand the liability thing, believe me. This isn't a torsion bar or steering component, it's a chunk of metal for rocks to bang off of.

In today's world of the internet, there's absolutely no reason to make us pay almost double for anything for distributor agreements. The US is getting it's arse handed to it in trade deficit and this whacky krap is just one of the reasons. Competitiveness doesn't only come from getting labor down. We need torte reform and we need to get rid of middlemen.

Again, good job Hunner!

[Hunner]

This is a part sandwiched below the existing plate, on purpose. It's like a washer in a way between the nut and ubolt. I believe they "suggested" you could get new u-bolts and nuts. Of course the dealer would love that. Our local spring shop laughed when I said that. They dont stock many but have a machine that makes them. It's like $4 for a pair. Im betting they are $40 at a dealer, think I will ask. Im also going to guess they dont have any. If anyone is paranoid get new u-bolts and nuts. Then of course you should have them xrayed and magna fluxed and ultra sounded for integrity and test the stock they use on a torque bench to test the breaking strength of that batch of material. There is a theory that the threads were stretched when they were originally torqued. In all the years of owning cars how many people have regularly re-torqued their spring shackle plate nuts??
On another sore subject,
I have two complete tie rods assemblies but I found pieces at several dealers to make them up. I ordered some from GM parts direct at a low price but now they are on national backorder? Im seeing a pattern here. Someone responsible for carrying parts, that I would think will be in high demand, just blew it or something. I would have thought dealers would be required to carry a certain amount of inventory but apparently not. If you bust a tierod you will wait a long time I guess.
Im going to wheel at Superlift this weekend and ponder all this...................

[garnerbiker]

No long explanation needed. Just take off the U-bolt nuts and the shock bolt and put on the skid. You can get it all back up and then compress the shock to get it in. My friend and I did these yesterday in 45 min. I reccommend powdercoating! That was the first time that I had parts coated. DO IT!! It was 40 bills to do both plates. BEAUTIFUL!!! :beerchug:

I am glad I had my air system finally hooked up to rip the nuts off. Previous wheeling and abuse made them a bit tough to get off. Thank goodness I wasn't using a wrench. :fdance:

[RuggedH2]

Garner,

Sorry to go OT for a second, but

Do you always roll with the rear sway bar disconnected? If so, how do you like that around town?

[SR1355]

Thanks Hunner, Santa arrived today with a box full of metal. These things are built tough, I'll have installed tonight for a work-out in MOAB... :jump:

[CrisB]

Cool!! Be careful welding, Paul...disconnect both pos & neg battery cables & touch together to do an auto shutoff on the computers, then wait 15 minutes.

Got that tidbit from my service manager, he said there's something like 6 different computer modules to protect from frying out.

Use a ratchet strap to hold up the shock.

[garnerbiker]

I took off the rear sway bar per advice from some XJ friends. The rear gets a little bit more articulation. Around town I don't notice. That could be because I drive it like a Cadillac....slow and smooth....:dancingbanana:

I just got to get on the front plates now.

When welded on, can you still remove the spring easily?

[Hunner]

I don't believe it can ever touch. I ran Long Ranch and inspected mine and had painted that area so I could see if it did. I stretched everything including my rear bumper and they did not touch the spring. The first set they had them a little tall on the front curl. I had it shortened before the production run and now use those two longer ones for door stops.

[garnerbiker]

what about trying to take the spring out?

[Hunner]

Should be able to unbolt everything from the back up, then the front bolt and lift up, back and out. You planning on hauling a big load? Adding a 50 cal and ammo and need more spring rate? Ahhh rocket launcher that's the ticket. Then there is grinder and cut off blades and worse case break out the blue wrench.

[Hunner]

We looked up 06 then 07 and they are the same. He just happened to print the 07 one.

[garnerbiker]

Hunner, May I say again? YOU ROCK.

Thanks for the torque specs.

Right now I'm in Park City, UT getting in some end of the season tracks.

[Hunner]

You are most welcome,
Just doing my part, one H3 at a time. We got to stick together if nobody wants to make functional "stuff" for us we gotta do it. I did run my idea by a certified Hummer tech (man these guys are young) who agreed that blue loctite couldn't hurt, well unless you get it in your eye. I use it on everything from beat up ole H3's to motorcycles, airplanes, race cars, tractors, boat diesels and anything with nuts and bolts. I never had one of my nuts fall off! Man am I glad!!! (I really don't recommend it for personal use.) But remember torque your nuts.............

[Hunner]

I still have a few skid plates stacked up in my shop if anybody missed all the feeding frenzy on the first surge. I figured the hard wheelers would jump on them first and then it would slow down. Funny sort of info, I sold a bunch on here and HX but none on HF. Sort of a survey of who really gets dirty??

[Desert Dan]

Can I re-use my factory u-bolt nuts with proper torque and locktite?

My AMSTAR Skids didn't come with new nuts?

[Hunner]

I guess that is up to you. The brand "A" did have a disclaimer in the instructions to run out to your local dealer and buy new ubolts and nuts. It also did not protect the shock mounting bolt.
A local spring shop can make them. The one here custom makes them instead of stocking piles of different ones. They have a special machine for that.
There are several schools of thought on that. If mine fall off I will let you know. It would be my thought that if bolt stretch was so critical why did GM not put skids on there in the first place??? Knocking the shock off and bottom spring plate is a possible reality without them!
Annnd my favorite photo