Finally finished my suspension!!!!

Blackie · 08-10-2008, 10:37 PM

Well, I finally finished (except alignment scheduled for 8/14) the suspension on my truck!!!! What a relief it is. The story behind my build is that I knew very little about truck suspension's so I purchased a 6" "bolt on" SA Kit from SuspensionMax in Anaheim, CA since they were local to me so they could install it. Before I purchased it, I emailed and asked what was the biggest size tire's I could fit with their kit and their installer Jason replied 33's would fit. Man was that some BS!!! They did the install on May 23rd, 2008 and of course, the 33's I bought did not fit (rubbed like hell!) They had me come back the following week so they could put bigger springs in for the extra clearance. That gave the extra clearance so the tires could turn but I only had a 1/4 of an inch of travel before my UCA hit the frame so the truck rode like shit. Also, the UCA rubbed on the inside of the tire (see pic's). Then after looking around online for S-10 forums I found a site with a guy who had the same kit. The fix for him to run 33's was BJ Spacer's and 1 1/2" wheel spacers so I bought that stuff. Truck still rode like shit cause of the springs that were too big for this kit. After reading a lot of post's it seemed everyone said that any lift on a 2wd S-10 over 3" a long travel kit was the best way to go. I found one on Ebay for a cheap price ($126 for LT UCA's, LCA's, Springs, Extended tie rods, Limit Straps) but the guy modded the UCA's with heims. I wanted to keep my stock mounting setup so I asked around on a few forums if anyone wanted to trade those uppers for regular LT uppers. I ended up having Matt (your the man ) at Baja Customs build me some custom LT UCA's to go with the AIM LT LCA's I got from Ebay. I removed the SA kit and installed the LT kit last weekend and the truck ride's very smooth. So....it took me 3 months to figure out the best fix to my truck suspension but now that it's all done I can say it was all worth it.

Enough of my blabbering.....here's the pics!!!

Install pissed me off sometimes:

Here's the photobucket link for the install pics and a few more of the truck.
http://s56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...en/My%20Truck/

***orangesonoma*** · 08-10-2008, 10:44 PM

why cant i get the pics to show up?

Blackie · 08-10-2008, 10:47 PM

Dunno?!?!?! When I clicked on the insert an image tab, it popped up the http address bar for the image but they show up as links in the post for me too?

*****thanks orangesonoma**************

***orangesonoma*** · 08-10-2008, 10:49 PM

fixed...

Jadesmarine · 08-10-2008, 10:53 PM

i like your truck same color as mine except ur up and im down lol. good job

Tim99Zr2 · 08-10-2008, 11:54 PM

looks great man, murder it out!

yfzracr89 · 08-11-2008, 12:28 AM

thats what my truck looked like untill i took her offroading about 10 times. My beautiful black paint it F'ed up now so its pointless. god i miss it lol

slonlow2000 · 08-11-2008, 12:37 AM

looks pretty tuff, makes me want to lift one

normajean · 08-11-2008, 01:29 AM

I want it. I wish mine was black.

89-S-Dime · 08-11-2008, 03:34 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Blackie

Well, I finally finished (except alignment scheduled for 8/14) the suspension on my truck!!!! What a relief it is. The story behind my build is that I knew very little about truck suspension's so I purchased a 6" "bolt on" SA Kit from SuspensionMax in Anaheim, CA since they were local to me so they could install it. Before I purchased it, I emailed and asked what was the biggest size tire's I could fit with their kit and their installer Jason replied 33's would fit. Man was that some BS!!! They did the install on May 23rd, 2008 and of course, the 33's I bought did not fit (rubbed like hell!) They had me come back the following week so they could put bigger springs in for the extra clearance. That gave the extra clearance so the tires could turn but I only had a 1/4 of an inch of travel before my UCA hit the frame so the truck rode like shit. Also, the UCA rubbed on the inside of the tire (see pic's). Then after looking around online for S-10 forums I found a site with a guy who had the same kit. The fix for him to run 33's was BJ Spacer's and 1 1/2" wheel spacers so I bought that stuff. Truck still rode like shit cause of the springs that were too big for this kit. After reading a lot of post's it seemed everyone said that any lift on a 2wd S-10 over 3" a long travel kit was the best way to go. I found one on Ebay for a cheap price ($126 for LT UCA's, LCA's, Springs, Extended tie rods, Limit Straps) but the guy modded the UCA's with heims. I wanted to keep my stock mounting setup so I asked around on a few forums if anyone wanted to trade those uppers for regular LT uppers. I ended up having Matt (your the man ) at Baja Customs build me some custom LT UCA's to go with the AIM LT LCA's I got from Ebay. I removed the SA kit and installed the LT kit last weekend and the truck ride's very smooth. So....it took me 3 months to figure out the best fix to my truck suspension but now that it's all done I can say it was all worth it.

Enough of my blabbering.....here's the pics!!!

kinda of looks like my truck

Wicked Mayhem · 08-11-2008, 09:32 AM

are those 17" wheels?

ChrisInVT · 08-11-2008, 10:07 AM

Looks good!

greencactus3 · 08-11-2008, 01:09 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Wicked Mayhem

are those 17" wheels?

looks like 15s or 16sto me

Blackie · 08-11-2008, 02:52 PM

Yep, 17x8 Soft 8 Wheels in 33" BFG All Terrains.

Xtreme24 · 08-11-2008, 02:59 PM

looks sick

BlownDime · 08-11-2008, 09:23 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by greencactus3

looks like 15s or 16sto me

Time to see the optometrist.

mcaravella04 · 08-11-2008, 09:40 PM

Looks great man

greencactus3 · 08-11-2008, 10:07 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by BlownDime

Time to see the optometrist.

i actually do need to... running outta contacts lol

but damn. i guess 33s are a lotta rubber lol

crazy91s10 · 08-11-2008, 10:49 PM

really sharp truck man.... damn clean! looks great!

muddubber · 08-12-2008, 08:59 AM

I concur with everyone elses comments. Looks really good all black and has a perfect stance, I think. Not to high and just the right amount of room to run 33's are they true 33's? 33x12.5 ? Also what springs did you use?

Blackie · 08-12-2008, 04:15 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by muddubber

I concur with everyone elses comments. Looks really good all black and has a perfect stance, I think. Not to high and just the right amount of room to run 33's are they true 33's? 33x12.5 ? Also what springs did you use?

They are the metric equivalent....285x70x17's. I used the springs that came with the LT kit I bought from Ebay which I "think" are the AIM springs.

muddubber · 08-12-2008, 06:59 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Blackie

They are the metric equivalent....285x70x17's. I used the springs that came with the LT kit I bought from Ebay which I "think" are the AIM springs.

Did you run the 1.25" spacers?

Blackie · 08-12-2008, 07:12 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by muddubber

Did you run the 1.25" spacers?

With the first SA kit....I ran the 1.5" wheel spacers all the way around but with this LT kit....I only have the 1.5" spacers on the rear.

muddubber · 08-12-2008, 09:44 PM

If I may ask?.....what is your backspacing on your rims and how much clearance do you have from the inner tire to the control arm point where the uniball is? ....I have roughly 1" on my setup but would love to get those front tires in more....Thanks....and sorry for highjacking your thread. But I really like that stance you got there.

Blackie · 08-12-2008, 10:36 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by muddubber

If I may ask?.....what is your backspacing on your rims and how much clearance do you have from the inner tire to the control arm point where the uniball is? ....I have roughly 1" on my setup but would love to get those front tires in more....Thanks....and sorry for highjacking your thread. But I really like that stance you got there.

The rims are Unique 17x8 with 4.5" BS. There is roughly 1.75-2" of clearance between the tire and the uniball section of the UCA. My UCA's are not the AIM LT's though....I had them built by a local fab shop (Bajacustoms.com) to go with the AIM LT LCA's.

greencactus3 · 08-12-2008, 10:56 PM

wait, they arent soft 8s? and where did you get those hub covers?

Blackie · 08-12-2008, 11:08 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by greencactus3

wait, they arent soft 8s? and where did you get those hub covers?

Yeah bro.....Soft 8's. The hub covers are just the plain chrome ones with no symbol....I sanded the chrome down and primered and painted them gloss black to match.

greencactus3 · 08-12-2008, 11:11 PM

ah, how much effort was it to sand them down? i want the centers, but i dont want chrome lol

Blackie · 08-12-2008, 11:14 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by greencactus3

ah, how much effort was it to sand them down? i want the centers, but i dont want chrome lol

Very little effort....you just use a brillo type scuff pad to rough up the chrome so the primer sticks when you spray them. Then whatever color paint you choose will stick to the primer. I spent maybe 3-5 minutes scuffing each one.

Merritj2417 · 08-15-2008, 03:15 AM

I love it man, it has the perfect stance.

Onimun · 08-15-2008, 03:39 AM

Long beach huh? like to Wheel?

08-10-2008, 10:37 PM	#1
Blackie Size Matters Age: 32 Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 175 Location: Long Beach, CA User is: OffLine	Finally finished my suspension!!!! Well, I finally finished (except alignment scheduled for 8/14) the suspension on my truck!!!! What a relief it is. The story behind my build is that I knew very little about truck suspension's so I purchased a 6" "bolt on" SA Kit from SuspensionMax in Anaheim, CA since they were local to me so they could install it. Before I purchased it, I emailed and asked what was the biggest size tire's I could fit with their kit and their installer Jason replied 33's would fit. Man was that some BS!!! They did the install on May 23rd, 2008 and of course, the 33's I bought did not fit (rubbed like hell!) They had me come back the following week so they could put bigger springs in for the extra clearance. That gave the extra clearance so the tires could turn but I only had a 1/4 of an inch of travel before my UCA hit the frame so the truck rode like shit. Also, the UCA rubbed on the inside of the tire (see pic's). Then after looking around online for S-10 forums I found a site with a guy who had the same kit. The fix for him to run 33's was BJ Spacer's and 1 1/2" wheel spacers so I bought that stuff. Truck still rode like shit cause of the springs that were too big for this kit. After reading a lot of post's it seemed everyone said that any lift on a 2wd S-10 over 3" a long travel kit was the best way to go. I found one on Ebay for a cheap price ($126 for LT UCA's, LCA's, Springs, Extended tie rods, Limit Straps) but the guy modded the UCA's with heims. I wanted to keep my stock mounting setup so I asked around on a few forums if anyone wanted to trade those uppers for regular LT uppers. I ended up having Matt (your the man ) at Baja Customs build me some custom LT UCA's to go with the AIM LT LCA's I got from Ebay. I removed the SA kit and installed the LT kit last weekend and the truck ride's very smooth. So....it took me 3 months to figure out the best fix to my truck suspension but now that it's all done I can say it was all worth it. Enough of my blabbering.....here's the pics!!! Install pissed me off sometimes: Here's the photobucket link for the install pics and a few more of the truck. http://s56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...en/My%20Truck/ Last edited by orangesonoma : 08-10-2008 at 10:49 PM.
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08-10-2008, 10:44 PM	#2
*orangesonoma* registered s10 sex offender Age: 30 Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 37,742 Location: Indian Trail, NC User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! why cant i get the pics to show up?
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08-10-2008, 10:47 PM	#3
Blackie Size Matters Age: 32 Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 175 Location: Long Beach, CA User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! Dunno?!?!?! When I clicked on the insert an image tab, it popped up the http address bar for the image but they show up as links in the post for me too? ***thanks orangesonoma************ Last edited by Blackie : 08-10-2008 at 10:54 PM.
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08-10-2008, 10:49 PM	#4
*orangesonoma* registered s10 sex offender Age: 30 Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 37,742 Location: Indian Trail, NC User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! fixed...
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08-10-2008, 10:53 PM	#5
Jadesmarine Adapt And Overcome! Age: 24 Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 723 Location: 29 Palms User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! i like your truck same color as mine except ur up and im down lol. good job
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08-10-2008, 11:54 PM	#6
Tim99Zr2 Registered User Age: 20 Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 7,161 Location: Reynoldsville User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! looks great man, murder it out!
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08-11-2008, 12:28 AM	#7
yfzracr89 Registered User Age: 18 Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 276 Location: Northern Virginia User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! thats what my truck looked like untill i took her offroading about 10 times. My beautiful black paint it F'ed up now so its pointless. god i miss it lol
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08-11-2008, 12:37 AM	#8
slonlow2000 Bought Not Built Age: 20 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,132 Location: Rolla, Mo User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! looks pretty tuff, makes me want to lift one
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08-11-2008, 01:29 AM	#9
normajean Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 232 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! I want it. I wish mine was black.
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08-11-2008, 03:34 AM	#10
89-S-Dime Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,053 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! Quote: Originally Posted by Blackie Well, I finally finished (except alignment scheduled for 8/14) the suspension on my truck!!!! What a relief it is. The story behind my build is that I knew very little about truck suspension's so I purchased a 6" "bolt on" SA Kit from SuspensionMax in Anaheim, CA since they were local to me so they could install it. Before I purchased it, I emailed and asked what was the biggest size tire's I could fit with their kit and their installer Jason replied 33's would fit. Man was that some BS!!! They did the install on May 23rd, 2008 and of course, the 33's I bought did not fit (rubbed like hell!) They had me come back the following week so they could put bigger springs in for the extra clearance. That gave the extra clearance so the tires could turn but I only had a 1/4 of an inch of travel before my UCA hit the frame so the truck rode like shit. Also, the UCA rubbed on the inside of the tire (see pic's). Then after looking around online for S-10 forums I found a site with a guy who had the same kit. The fix for him to run 33's was BJ Spacer's and 1 1/2" wheel spacers so I bought that stuff. Truck still rode like shit cause of the springs that were too big for this kit. After reading a lot of post's it seemed everyone said that any lift on a 2wd S-10 over 3" a long travel kit was the best way to go. I found one on Ebay for a cheap price ($126 for LT UCA's, LCA's, Springs, Extended tie rods, Limit Straps) but the guy modded the UCA's with heims. I wanted to keep my stock mounting setup so I asked around on a few forums if anyone wanted to trade those uppers for regular LT uppers. I ended up having Matt (your the man ) at Baja Customs build me some custom LT UCA's to go with the AIM LT LCA's I got from Ebay. I removed the SA kit and installed the LT kit last weekend and the truck ride's very smooth. So....it took me 3 months to figure out the best fix to my truck suspension but now that it's all done I can say it was all worth it. Enough of my blabbering.....here's the pics!!! kinda of looks like my truck
	[Reply w/Quote]

08-11-2008, 09:32 AM	#11
Wicked Mayhem i wouldnt undertsand Age: 20 Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 13,764 Location: League City, Texas User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! are those 17" wheels?
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08-11-2008, 10:07 AM	#12
ChrisInVT I Rather Be Wheelin' Age: 25 Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 4,461 Location: The Woods, VT User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! Looks good!
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08-11-2008, 01:09 PM	#13
greencactus3 bellcranks no more Age: 21 Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 23,014 Location: ann arbor, mi User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! Quote: Originally Posted by Wicked Mayhem are those 17" wheels? looks like 15s or 16sto me
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08-11-2008, 02:52 PM	#14
Blackie Size Matters Age: 32 Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 175 Location: Long Beach, CA User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! Yep, 17x8 Soft 8 Wheels in 33" BFG All Terrains.
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08-15-2008, 09:36 AM	#32
drmr

08-11-2008, 02:59 PM	#15
Xtreme24 DeXtreme on 20/22's Age: 22 Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 3,545 Location: DFW, Texas User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! looks sick
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08-11-2008, 09:23 PM	#16
BlownDime Works too much. Age: 21 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 957 Location: Alberta User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! Quote: Originally Posted by greencactus3 looks like 15s or 16sto me Time to see the optometrist.
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08-11-2008, 09:40 PM	#17
mcaravella04 Neglect Age: 22 Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 597 Location: gilbert az User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! Looks great man
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08-11-2008, 10:07 PM	#18
greencactus3 bellcranks no more Age: 21 Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 23,014 Location: ann arbor, mi User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! Quote: Originally Posted by BlownDime Time to see the optometrist. i actually do need to... running outta contacts lol but damn. i guess 33s are a lotta rubber lol
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08-11-2008, 10:49 PM	#19
crazy91s10 Registered Asshole Age: 23 Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 5,004 Location: Moscow, PA / Mansfield, PA User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! really sharp truck man.... damn clean! looks great!
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08-12-2008, 08:59 AM	#20
muddubber I MADE IT!! Age: 23 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 692 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! I concur with everyone elses comments. Looks really good all black and has a perfect stance, I think. Not to high and just the right amount of room to run 33's are they true 33's? 33x12.5 ? Also what springs did you use? Last edited by muddubber : 08-12-2008 at 09:01 AM.
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08-12-2008, 04:15 PM	#21
Blackie Size Matters Age: 32 Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 175 Location: Long Beach, CA User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! Quote: Originally Posted by muddubber I concur with everyone elses comments. Looks really good all black and has a perfect stance, I think. Not to high and just the right amount of room to run 33's are they true 33's? 33x12.5 ? Also what springs did you use? They are the metric equivalent....285x70x17's. I used the springs that came with the LT kit I bought from Ebay which I "think" are the AIM springs.
	[Reply w/Quote]

08-12-2008, 06:59 PM	#22
muddubber I MADE IT!! Age: 23 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 692 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! Quote: Originally Posted by Blackie They are the metric equivalent....285x70x17's. I used the springs that came with the LT kit I bought from Ebay which I "think" are the AIM springs. Did you run the 1.25" spacers?
	[Reply w/Quote]

08-12-2008, 07:12 PM	#23
Blackie Size Matters Age: 32 Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 175 Location: Long Beach, CA User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! Quote: Originally Posted by muddubber Did you run the 1.25" spacers? With the first SA kit....I ran the 1.5" wheel spacers all the way around but with this LT kit....I only have the 1.5" spacers on the rear.
	[Reply w/Quote]

08-12-2008, 09:44 PM	#24
muddubber I MADE IT!! Age: 23 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 692 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! If I may ask?.....what is your backspacing on your rims and how much clearance do you have from the inner tire to the control arm point where the uniball is? ....I have roughly 1" on my setup but would love to get those front tires in more....Thanks....and sorry for highjacking your thread. But I really like that stance you got there.
	[Reply w/Quote]

08-12-2008, 10:36 PM	#25
Blackie Size Matters Age: 32 Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 175 Location: Long Beach, CA User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! Quote: Originally Posted by muddubber If I may ask?.....what is your backspacing on your rims and how much clearance do you have from the inner tire to the control arm point where the uniball is? ....I have roughly 1" on my setup but would love to get those front tires in more....Thanks....and sorry for highjacking your thread. But I really like that stance you got there. The rims are Unique 17x8 with 4.5" BS. There is roughly 1.75-2" of clearance between the tire and the uniball section of the UCA. My UCA's are not the AIM LT's though....I had them built by a local fab shop (Bajacustoms.com) to go with the AIM LT LCA's.
	[Reply w/Quote]

08-12-2008, 10:56 PM	#26
greencactus3 bellcranks no more Age: 21 Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 23,014 Location: ann arbor, mi User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! wait, they arent soft 8s? and where did you get those hub covers?
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08-12-2008, 11:08 PM	#27
Blackie Size Matters Age: 32 Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 175 Location: Long Beach, CA User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! Quote: Originally Posted by greencactus3 wait, they arent soft 8s? and where did you get those hub covers? Yeah bro.....Soft 8's. The hub covers are just the plain chrome ones with no symbol....I sanded the chrome down and primered and painted them gloss black to match.
	[Reply w/Quote]

08-12-2008, 11:11 PM	#28
greencactus3 bellcranks no more Age: 21 Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 23,014 Location: ann arbor, mi User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! ah, how much effort was it to sand them down? i want the centers, but i dont want chrome lol
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08-12-2008, 11:14 PM	#29
Blackie Size Matters Age: 32 Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 175 Location: Long Beach, CA User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! Quote: Originally Posted by greencactus3 ah, how much effort was it to sand them down? i want the centers, but i dont want chrome lol Very little effort....you just use a brillo type scuff pad to rough up the chrome so the primer sticks when you spray them. Then whatever color paint you choose will stick to the primer. I spent maybe 3-5 minutes scuffing each one.
	[Reply w/Quote]

08-15-2008, 03:15 AM	#30
Merritj2417 ________________ Age: 23 Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5,806 Location: King, NC User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! I love it man, it has the perfect stance.
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08-15-2008, 03:39 AM	#31
Onimun Mr. Sparkle Age: 19 Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,051 Location: Southern California User is: OffLine	Re: Finally finished my suspension!!!! Long beach huh? like to Wheel?
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