Huge mistake. I won a GP auction…. Cali FMTV Project “ ‘Merica”

[NDT]

I thought your front driveshaft was bent as well? I would highly suggest you look into the u-joint puller tool, these caps can be stupid stuck in the yokes. Wasting hours pounding and cussing is not good use of your time out there.

 

[GeneralDisorder]

Definitely buy the u-joint tool. And pull both shafts. Just because it's not visibly bent doesn't mean it's still balanced. Some of these weren't well balanced when new.

 

[serpico760]

Definitely buy the u-joint tool. And pull both shafts. Just because it's not visibly bent doesn't mean it's still balanced. Some of these weren't well balanced when new.

I would say don't necessarily spend the money on the tool until you try it other ways. Mine came off actually stupid easy and I ended up not even really needing it. I had a standard two jaw puller that was a big one. I put two pieces of pipe around the ends and put those in the yoke holes, and pushed against the shaft and it actually came off easily. The tiger tool u-joint puller I bought turned out I didn't even need that either. Soak the pieces with something like liquid wrench give it some vibration and try it without the fancy tools first it might just work. I had way more difficulty getting the steering rod end off which took me several days of heating and pounding versus the u-joint and yoke which came out in a matter of minutes

 

[TOBASH]

I thought your front driveshaft was bent as well? I would highly suggest you look into the u-joint puller tool, these caps can be stupid stuck in the yokes. Wasting hours pounding and cussing is not good use of your time out there.

I would say don't necessarily spend the money on the tool until you try it other ways. Mine came off actually stupid easy and I ended up not even really needing it. I had a standard two jaw puller that was a big one. I put two pieces of pipe around the ends and put those in the yoke holes, and pushed against the shaft and it actually came off easily. The tiger tool u-joint puller I bought turned out I didn't even need that either. Soak the pieces with something like liquid wrench give it some vibration and try it without the fancy tools first it might just work. I had way more difficulty getting the steering rod end off which took me several days of heating and pounding versus the u-joint and yoke which came out in a matter of minutes

All great suggestions and viewpoints.

Many thanks.

What about shock absorber alternatives?

 

[NDT]

A used oem shock should still be ok. Suggest a wtb ad here for someone parting a truck out.

 

[GeneralDisorder]

Haven't encountered a bad shock yet that wasn't physically damaged. I'm sure it happens but I've not seen it. I would just source some used replacements. New shocks for our trucks has been a sticking point. There's nothing in the civilian space that really seems to be an easy drop in unless you go into the performance aftermarket and then you are talking $1000 to $1500 or more per wheel plus custom fitment - IE buy a lathe and make the adapters yourself.

 

[TOBASH]

Haven't encountered a bad shock yet that wasn't physically damaged. I'm sure it happens but I've not seen it. I would just source some used replacements. New shocks for our trucks has been a sticking point. There's nothing in the civilian space that really seems to be an easy drop in unless you go into the performance aftermarket and then you are talking $1000 to $1500 or more per wheel plus custom fitment - IE buy a lathe and make the adapters yourself.

My rig has a bent shock from a forking forklift at GovPlanet facility.

Same with drive shaft and tie rod

 

[Ronmar]

There are a few shock options in our weight class, but as mentioned will require bushings to adapt to the hardware size used…

 

[TOBASH]

There are a few shock options in our weight class, but as mentioned will require bushings to adapt to the hardware size used…

I’m not afraid to customize. Where can I find the replacement options?

 

[Ronmar]

There is a discussion floating around here about shocks(search feature in LMTV section only), will have to look in my notes for the option I found most likely…

OEM Shocks:

20.94” to 33.26” 12.32” travel
5/8” top, 7/8” bottom (16mm top, 22MM bottom) bolts

the most likley off the shelf I found is a Monroe class7-8 truck shock.

Monroe 65456

20.25” to 32.88” 12.63” travel. So it is ~3/8” shorter overall length than the original(3/8 less full extension), but it has 5/16” more travel, so it is nearly 3/4 shorter when fully compressed… Not a huge difference from OEM…

It uses an L4 mount on each end(monroe documentation shows the specs for the L4 mount end). It is a rubber bushed round welded steel ring, so you will need adapter bushings and spacers to interface with the OEM hardware and mounts. I know of at least one person using them so far…

 

[biscuitwhistler37]

WTK: LMTV Shock absorber options

Has anyone came up with a cross reference for shock absorbers for LMTV? I see Fox has some but they're evidently in limited supplies.

www.steelsoldiers.com

Two threads in there, with pics. Hope it works for you

Edit: Link fixed

 

[MatthewWBailey]

I’m not afraid to customize. Where can I find the replacement options?

This my effort at replacing mine, based on some older threads

A Shocking thread, A1 Monroe 65456

Replaced the first front shock with Monroe 65456. Luckily, the Monroe compressed length is 1/8" shorter and extended length 3/8" longer than the originals. (Unless the old shocks are damaged). The passenger side old shock is super hard to compress while out of the truck (all my weight on it...

www.steelsoldiers.com

 

[Ronmar]

WTK: LMTV Shock absorber options

Has anyone came up with a cross reference for shock absorbers for LMTV? I see Fox has some but they're evidently in limited supplies.

www.steelsoldiers.com

Two threads in there, with pics. Hope it works for you

Edit: Link fixed

When I talked with a rep at Fox, and we started discussing vehicle weight, he said none of their production were appropriate for this much weight.

 

[GeneralDisorder]

When I talked with a rep at Fox, and we started discussing vehicle weight, he said none of their production were appropriate for this much weight.

Yep. This is a whole different world. FOX closed their heavy division during COVID and has no desire to get into that business again.

There's basically KING and ICON. Take your pick. The manufacturers that make these for the military like General Kinetics Engineering in Canada aren't interested in our market and are now a division of a larger conglomerate. They made a large percentage of the shocks I have seen on our trucks.