Anyone else have this problem or know what caused it? Apparently these "heavy duty" struts designed for a 2.5V6 + winch bumper + skid plates + full size spare just don't cut it on my 2.0L 4 banger on 31's, no skid plates, plastic bumpers, stock spare tire.

If these struts are really this bad then I'm not even sure if I want to bother with warranty, shipping, removal and installation, and having the front end aligned again.

ok, ya wow.......thats pretty severe........ive only used stock struts with screw on extenders and have never had a problem.....on my gv, xl7 or my kick.......i would try a set of stockers and see how it goes........ or maybe a set of OME, people seem to like those and use them on calmini set ups right from day one.....

-Lance

Yeah, since you have the strut spacers, just go with the KYB GR2's ($50 a piece). I've heard complaints before about the calmini struts blowing out.

that is pure crap, i'd at the least push calmini for a refund on the struts... 

Wow, turns out the stories about Calmini's customer service are pretty true. I called them today and they pretty much blew me off on a wild goose chase...I didn't buy the kit directly from them, I bought it from some online parts store on eBay, so apparently to get warranty I have to first deal with the company I purchased it from "to get details like vehicle history, etc..."

What a load of shyte! It's Calmini's product, if they were anything like Trail Tough they would STAND BEHIND their product and GO OUT OF THEIR WAY to SERVE THE CUSTOMER.

That said, I am not even bothering putting their shitty Argentina-built struts on my vehicle again, then have it re-aligned, only to have them blow out again after 1000 km. That's flippin rediculous. I went on a short 4x4 trail once the weekend after the lift was installed and I drove 50 km down a gravel road with 2 GMC Sierra pickups. No, they didn't blow their shocks out too. 

And I will no longer be proudly displaying the Calmini sticker on my tailgate. They can go pound sand for all I care.

You best bet it to use stockers/ crown vic struts, or OME if you dont mind the extra cash, it will ride VERY nice with this set up.

Perhaps installing limiting straps would be a good idea for a system with alot of flex?

But remember, you have the shine blue control arms!

Bryce

Wow, that sucks.  Last I knew, the struts were Gabriel, I believe.  Maybe Tenneco.  Would seem to be a manufacturer defect.  I'd still try going thru the vendor and get warranty.

But, I put KYB GR2s on the Kick.  not really impressed with the quality after a year, as they seem way too soft on both jouce and rebound.

Did I post those pics for you (I'm thinking I didn't).

If it makes you feel any better, I just got the cash and was going to order my Calmini lift today, but I will not. Even after my wife finally approved the purchase, it looks lik eI will be going a different route. Thanks for the feedback, it made my decision easy.

The rest of the kit is ok, as long as you don't mind the stiff ride. I am going to buy some Monroe Sensa-trac struts rather than bother with their bass-ackwards warranty department. I'll post back with some feedback on the new struts when I get r done.