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Shock Install Gone Bad

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Old 03-09-2006, 08:54 PM
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Shock Install Gone Bad

I know, how could I screw up a shock absorber job? I wished I knew!

Ater 190K miles on the originals I thought it was time so I replaced the fronts with Monroe Reflex. So far so good....wrong. They started "knocking" as soon as I took it for a test drive. Seems I could not tighten the lower bolt enough to "clamp" the new shock. I measured the old -v- new and found the new rubber was much smaller causing the shock to bounce up & down on the bolt.

I then took the new ones off and put the old ones back on and it stoped for 100 m iles, but now these are "knocking" too!

Has anybody else replaced the shocks on a "99"? Did you have any trouble with knocking?
Old 03-09-2006, 08:58 PM
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On mine, the nuts on top of the front ones had to be tightened with an impact wrench. The paint was too thick to bust with a ratchet. I replaced mine with Rancho and the new bushings all fit.
Old 03-09-2006, 09:18 PM
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Originally Posted by crobtex
On mine, the nuts on top of the front ones had to be tightened with an impact wrench. The paint was too thick to bust with a ratchet. I replaced mine with Rancho and the new bushings all fit.
Mine are rattling on the lower bolt.
Old 03-09-2006, 10:44 PM
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There's a torque for the bolt, did you follow the specs? I used KYB's and had to go with a different shock than the stock one, due to my upgraded springs. The lower mounting flange on the shock was about an eight smaller, so I had to get some hardened washers to fill the gap, then I torqued it to the specs.
Old 03-09-2006, 11:11 PM
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On the 97 I actually had to spread the lower mounts to get the Bilstiens in. It was a xombination of them crushing on the Monroes and a burr from the sleeve in the bushing. I tightened them down with a 1/2" impact.

Randy
Old 03-09-2006, 11:30 PM
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Originally Posted by newriverSpecon
On the 97 I actually had to spread the lower mounts to get the Bilstiens in. It was a xombination of them crushing on the Monroes and a burr from the sleeve in the bushing. I tightened them down with a 1/2" impact.

Randy
___________________________--

I also had the same issue as newriver
The Billys were a little wider than the Monroes
When I put the Monroes on I had to tighten the lower bolt as tight as I could get it with a pipe on a 1/2 breaker bar to stop the clunking and rattling
Old 03-09-2006, 11:35 PM
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That happened on my left front on our last trip to New Mexico, when i got back I just went to Autozone and got the most heavy duty shock they had listed for the CTD and havent had a problem with it since...I cant even remember what brand it was, but ill look tomorrow if you are interested.
Old 03-10-2006, 06:58 AM
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Originally Posted by piperca
There's a torque for the bolt, did you follow the specs?
There were NO instructions with the Monroes at all. NOTHING. I just used an impact wrench.
Old 03-10-2006, 07:18 AM
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Mine rattled in the front. I just kept tightening them a little and it went away. It's not tigthened anything crazy or anything.

Also Monroes here but "Gas Magnum".
Old 03-10-2006, 07:47 AM
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Is the bolt loose in the shock if so they sell sleeves to fit in the bushing, if there is too much gap in the mount i use flat washers to fill it. Worked for me.
Old 03-10-2006, 07:57 AM
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Go to Sears and ask them if they have some shims for the stocks.
Old 03-10-2006, 12:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Mike D
Go to Sears and ask them if they have some shims for the stocks.
No luck at Sears, but I took some 2" fender washers and made them work. Used a 4 foot cheater bar to tighten the lower bolt to snug everything tight. What a pain!
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