28 Limiting Straps, Double Woven, Pair

OVERVIEW

When you''re pushing the limits of your long-travel suspension in a Baja Bug, Sand Rail, or heavy-duty off-road VW, the weakest link is often the internal stop of your shocks or the maximum angle of your CV joints. The EMPI 28-Inch Double Woven Limiting Straps are engineered to be the ultimate insurance policy for your drivetrain and suspension components. By catching the suspension at the bottom of the stroke, these straps prevent the violent "topping out" that can shatter shock seals or snap rod ends. For any high-performance air-cooled build, these aren''t just an accessory; they are a critical safety component designed to handle the massive kinetic energy generated during full droop at high speeds.

What sets these apart from standard options is the double-woven construction. For extreme applications involving heavy-weight vehicles or high-horsepower setups, a single-layer strap simply won''t cut it due to the potential for excessive stretch or catastrophic failure under load. These straps feature twice the material thickness, providing a massive increase in tensile strength and significantly reducing the "spring-back" effect during hard landings. Whether you are running a heavy Manx-style buggy or a full-tube race chassis, these 28-inch straps provide the robust durability required to keep your 930 or 934 CV joints from binding and your expensive bypass shocks from over-extending. Don''t risk a weekend-ending mechanical failure when you can bolt on the heavy-duty protection of EMPI''s double-layered webbing.

FITMENT

These limiting straps are a universal-fit component designed for custom long-travel suspension systems. While they are a staple in the air-cooled VW community, they are compatible with any off-road vehicle requiring a 28-inch limit. Common applications include:

• Volkswagen Baja Bug: Custom rear trailing arm setups and long-travel front ends.
• Sand Rails & Dune Buggies: Ideal for mid-engine or rear-engine chrome-moly chassis.
• Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle: Off-road converted models with lifted suspension.
• Manx & Fiberglass Buggies: High-performance builds requiring extra suspension control.
• Custom 4x4 & Rock Crawlers: Suitable for any rig utilizing 1/2-inch mounting hardware.
• Trophy Karts & UTVs: Heavy-duty alternative for long-travel side-by-side configurations.

SPECS

• Total Length: 28 Inches (Measured from center of mounting hole to center of mounting hole).
• Construction: Double-woven, heavy-duty nylon webbing for maximum tensile strength.
• End Tabs: Heat-treated, gold zinc-plated steel for superior corrosion resistance and durability.
• Mounting Hole Diameter: Standard 1/2-inch (0.500") to accommodate high-strength Grade 8 bolts.
• Thickness: Double-layered material approximately 1/4-inch thick.
• Width: 1.75-inch webbing width to distribute load across the end tabs effectively.
• Quantity: Sold as a matched pair (2 straps included).
• Part Number: 17-2898-0.

PRO TIPS

1. Account for Material Stretch

One of the most common mistakes builders make is mounting the limit strap exactly at the shock''s maximum extension. High-strength nylon webbing, even double-woven varieties, will naturally stretch approximately 1 inch for every 12 inches of strap length under heavy load. For a 28-inch strap, you should expect about 2 inches of total stretch during a hard "bottoming out" event. To protect your shocks properly, mount these straps so that they are tight at least 1.5 to 2 inches before the shock reaches its absolute physical limit. This ensures that even when the strap stretches, the shock never takes the full force of the impact.

2. Prevent Fraying with Proper Alignment

The longevity of your limiting straps is entirely dependent on the mounting angle. You must ensure that the steel end tabs are aligned perfectly in the direction of the suspension''s travel. If the strap is pulled at an awkward side angle, the edge of the nylon webbing will rub against the steel tab or the chassis mounting bracket. Over time, this creates "fuzzing" or fraying, which significantly weakens the strap''s integrity. If you must mount them at an angle, use a specialized limit strap clevis or a spacer to ensure the strap has a straight, linear pull during the entire suspension cycle.

3. Monitor CV Joint Angles

While protecting your shocks is important, the primary job of a limit strap on a VW transaxle setup is often protecting the CV joints. Before final mounting, rotate your wheels by hand at full droop. If you feel any "notching" or binding in the CV joints, your suspension is traveling too far. You should set your EMPI limit straps to stop the suspension arm movement just before that binding occurs. This prevents the CV cages from shattering and saves your axles from snapping under power. It is much cheaper to replace a worn strap than it is to replace a 930 CV joint and a prepped axle in the middle of the desert.