Compress rear shocks in order to tighten?

[Luke325i]

Procomp es9000 matched to my truck by 4Wheel Parts


Im finally at the stage to stack the bushings and install them but i cant get a thread to get the nut to grab onto!
Note, these bushings came with the shocks, so im doing something wrong



Here is a gallery of the bushing orientation, and a pic once placed into the upper mount location


Truck has wheels off, jackstands on axle.

How am i going to squish these enough to expose some threads?

 

[fourfive]

I'm assuming you already have the lower shock mount bolt threaded on. If so, did you try jacking the axle up to compress the shocks enough to get the nut threaded?

 

[gamefreakgc]

It might be too late for this part, but the easiest way to install rear shocks is in this order:

1. Mount bottom shock bolt
2. Cut shock strap and let it slowly decompress into the top mount
3. Secure top mount

If that's no longer possible, you'll want to compress the shock by carefully jacking up the side of the axle you are working on. Doesn't need to be much.

 

[Luke325i]

I can re-compress them easy... Ive tried it with lower connected, and lower disconnected

I think im going to have to use a jack, you're right

 

[gamefreakgc]

Yeah and once you have the nuts started on both side, bring the vehicle back down on the ground and then finish tightening it down. You'll have a lot more thread to work with then.