Falcon 3.3 shocks blown seals

[bumpit]

So I've sent my shocks in because they were leaking. Teraflex is claiming some over spray on the very bottom of the shock where it doesn't actually compress has caused both front seals to leak.

Am I crazy or does this seem very unlikely if even possible. I run 3" of bumpstop and have since the shocks went in. I've got to get these back because I'm in a time crunch to make a jeep jamboree but I'm def not happy about it. Has anyone else had seals leak due to paint over spray on the very bottom of the shaft?

Fyi the overspray is there from touching up rock rash/rust.

Pic of the part in question

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[Moto_21]

it can, if you can feel it with your fingernail, and it passes the wiper seal to the main seal that could cause it to not seal around the shaft at that point, most likely its tiny enough that it would seal back up unless somehow it rubbed over it enough times making a dent or mark in the seal causing it to not seal anywhere on the shaft

 

[Moto_21]

if the shocks not even traveling to that point it could have a tiny knick on the shaft somewhere. or the seals are just crap. id just rub the shaft down with a scotch brite pad to take the paint off it and check it for knicks with your fingernail.

 

[bumpit]

it can, if you can feel it with your fingernail, and it passes the wiper seal to the main seal that could cause it to not seal around the shaft at that point, most likely its tiny enough that it would seal back up unless somehow it rubbed over it enough times making a dent or mark in the seal causing it to not seal anywhere on the shaft

I'm questioning that the shaft could even make contact with 3" of bumpstop. It it just all of a sudden started leaking enough to leave a small pool of oil in about an hour and that overspray has been on there for over a year. I would think overspray would have to be pretty rough to make them leak as much as they were.

 

[Moto_21]

yeah probably just bad/worn out seal, they just didnt want to have to replace it im assuming, easier for them to blame the paint.

 

[bumpit]

if the shocks not even traveling to that point it could have a tiny knick on the shaft somewhere. or the seals are just crap. id just rub the shaft down with a scotch brite pad to take the paint off it and check it for knicks with your fingernail.

I already mailed the shocks back to falcon to be repaired. Can't believe how much it was to ship them back either lol.

I will say tho I think this is prob the biggest drawback of the falcons is that you have to send them all the way back to falcon vs the many shops that work on Fox and king shocks. I didn't really think of that before I bought them of course!

I'm going to be in it for 500$ after shipping them back and paying for the repair just for 2 shocks which just seems nuts to me.

 

[Moto_21]

ouch that hurts, coulda almost bought better shocks from fox or king lol

 

[bumpit]

ouch that hurts, coulda almost bought better shocks from fox or king lol

Yeah it stings just a bit.

 

[JerseyJeff]

That paint on the shaft is very abrasive to the seal causing early failure. It acts like sandpaper as the seal passes through the stroke.

 

[maxstrategery]

So I've sent my shocks in because they were leaking. Teraflex is claiming some over spray on the very bottom of the shock where it doesn't actually compress has caused both front seals to leak.

Am I crazy or does this seem very unlikely if even possible. I run 3" of bumpstop and have since the shocks went in. I've got to get these back because I'm in a time crunch to make a jeep jamboree but I'm def not happy about it. Has anyone else had seals leak due to paint over spray on the very bottom of the shaft?

Fyi the overspray is there from touching up rock rash/rust.

Pic of the part in question

A side question. I will be lifting my Gladiator in next week and have chosen the SP2 3.3's as well. Can you tell me about the ride quality on the 3.3's?

How do they handle small bumps washboards? Where do you have the Shaft/mode setting set to (cold/soft or Performance/sport) and how does that setting interplay with the dial settings? Thanks in advance.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

A side question. I will be lifting my Gladiator in next week and have chosen the SP2 3.3's as well. Can you tell me about the ride quality on the 3.3's?

How do they handle small bumps washboards? Where do you have the Shaft/mode setting set to (cold/soft or Performance/sport) and how does that setting interplay with the dial settings? Thanks in advance.

You weren't talking to me but I have my shaft set to soft and run setting 1 for everything. I find the setting absolutely perfect on and offroad. Since I'm in a 392, I could imagine being a little stiff on a lighter Jeeps.

 

[maxstrategery]

You weren't talking to me but I have my shaft set to soft and run setting 1 for everything. I find the setting absolutely perfect on and offroad. Since I'm in a 392, I could imagine being a little stiff on a lighter Jeeps.

I'm ecodiesel so a bit heavier. I am really interested in the small compression small bump washboard type performance. I am looking for controlled damping at the shallow compression, I definitely don't want the harsh reactive feel on the small bumps.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I'm ecodiesel so a bit heavier. I am really interested in the small compression small bump washboard type performance. I am looking for controlled damping at the shallow compression, I definitely don't want the harsh reactive feel on the small bumps.

Hard for me to say. I feel like my 392 with a Teraflex 3.5 RT3/Falcon 3.3 kit, 37" E-rated tires handle washboards better than my stock Rubicon XR on 35 C-rated tires and I run them both at 29 psi. A lot of other factors to consider there besides just shocks.

 

[NMPirate]

A side question. I will be lifting my Gladiator in next week and have chosen the SP2 3.3's as well. Can you tell me about the ride quality on the 3.3's?

How do they handle small bumps washboards? Where do you have the Shaft/mode setting set to (cold/soft or Performance/sport) and how does that setting interplay with the dial settings? Thanks in advance.

I run the Falcons on my JKU and on the street have them set at 2.2. Had them at 2.1 but had more body roll than I wanted. I have not set them any higher than that, but I'm sure the body roll would totally go away and the ride would get pretty tight. Just a quick turn of the knob and all is better! I run them on 1 when off-road. I tried them at 1 for a day on the street and they seemed oddly soft for my liking.

 

[bumpit]

A side question. I will be lifting my Gladiator in next week and have chosen the SP2 3.3's as well. Can you tell me about the ride quality on the 3.3's?

How do they handle small bumps washboards? Where do you have the Shaft/mode setting set to (cold/soft or Performance/sport) and how does that setting interplay with the dial settings? Thanks in advance.

I run the on the middle setting on the road and the softest setting off-road. The ride quality is a performance feel, it's firm but not stuff and body roll and nose dive is way better. Washboards are much better and don't beat you up. I do think they pair best with a linear spring.

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