Shocking Observation!
This is really not technical enough for that section but may show some things to look for if you wheel hard.
The Alpha lives on with around 73,000 miles.
Met up with some forum members from out of state and ran the Hot Springs ORV, formerly Superlift.
We found the trails a bit above the old ratings and some really rough sections. It was fun but if you play you pay.
Trail report.
http://www.hummer4x4offroad.com/for...Arkansas-event&p=153580&viewfull=1#post153580
Now I remember why I quit going over there!
I put on my old Cooper 35 STT's since they already had some trail damage. They have been sitting outside but covered.
I think the rubber was less pliable and I was running with a bit of jumping and spinning going on.
The rears with the locker on grinding on them really got chewed up.
I went over to try to balance what was left just for getting to and from the trails.
One is cupping badly and waffles some on pavement but for short distances will do.
When we let it down the front end bounced and three of us all had surprise looks on our faces.
Ok maybe my shocks with 60,000+ miles may be getting soft?
More looking and the shorter extended bump stops, built based on my findings when I made the Franken stops from cut and paste OEM, really got chewed up too. I did not think it was possible to compress them that much but like I said, it was rough climbing those shale outcroppings.
I do have a little more travel with my extended sway links and tie rods that articulate 30 degrees.(still same spherical rod ends with a total of over 100,000 miles.) so they got hammered a more than stock travel.
They did not come out though.
Age could have something to do with that as they have been in since 08.
I ordered more Bilsteins as I believe they did well until recently.
After removing them I can compress them a little but I cannot move the new ones.
They have a little life in them if someone wanted to run those instead of worn out OEM.
The model for the H3 are now listed on some sites for the H3 noting that if you have keys or are lifted slightly these are the ones. Actually were originally for 1500 series truck slightly lifted.
Eshocks had the best price at about $77 each with free shipping.
(Don's Sport Vehicle Sales)
Arrived FED EX in a couple of days.
Ok so being the cheap ole guy I am instead of paying $35 each to have them installed I grabbed my new tire jack and my new air/hydraulic jack.
I wanted to inspect things and take my time anyway.
Looks like I could have gone ahead and put new brakes on.
The bottle jack just fit under the front skid plate.
In the rear it took a partial pump of a rapid lift floor jack to fit it under there.
This was with the 35's.
I rotated and switched back to the 33's and was still able to get the front out but had to lift the rear a bit.
Now if I can move my left arm tomorrow I will be fine.
Rotator cuff is messing with me.
Anyway me and the Hunner Hummer are living on, C'est la vie.