Help with Loose rear shocks after lift install

C

ChicagoT4R

New member
I just installed the Toytec ultimate lift with OME 891's and Bilstien 5125s about a month ago and after a short 500 mile road trip, the rear upper shock mounts came loose. We tightened them down and everything seemed solid. But I noticed last night that I can turn the upper shaft portion of the shock. Should I be able to do that?

Here's the kicker: we leave for Ouray CO from Chicago at 4AM!!!!! I need to get this fixed before hitting the trails out there!

Thanks!
 
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Don't think that is normal since the rubber spacers get pinched and should prevent the shaft from rotating.

I've heard wildly different torque ratings for those top nuts. Problem is I don't think a torque wrench in the world will get to them unless you take the cab off.

Get back under there and tighten them down as much as you can with a wrench. I think the manual says (40-50ft-lbs) PLEASE DOUBLE CONFIRM THAT!

Once again, as a reminder, don't clamp onto the damper rod. Avoid that at all costs.


Pretty minor problem and easily fixed!
 
BTW, I have a 2001...forgot to mention that.

Ok I figured that wasn't right, but I've never tried it so I wasn't sure! Thanks for the reply!

I'll get back under there and tighten them down. Would putting another nut on top help them from coming loose again? I think there's enough thread up there.
 
4-Ripcord said:
lock washer or lock nut?
Click to expand...

If I remember right, the one that came with the shocks was a nylon nut so I don't see how it could be backing out, but it is!

Maybe I'll add a lock nut and some loctite.

I've heard of a few guys that have had them come loose but never multiple times. Anyone else having this problem?
 
ChicagoT4R said:
If I remember right, the one that came with the shocks was a nylon nut so I don't see how it could be backing out, but it is!

Maybe I'll add a lock nut and some loctite.

I've heard of a few guys that have had them come loose but never multiple times. Anyone else having this problem?
Click to expand...

How are you getting them tight? I know with mine I used a pair of vice grips on the mounting bracket while I tightened them. Seemed to be a good way to get them nice and snug.
 
Last edited:
ChicagoT4R said:
If I remember right, the one that came with the shocks was a nylon nut so I don't see how it could be backing out, but it is!

Maybe I'll add a lock nut and some loctite.

I've heard of a few guys that have had them come loose but never multiple times. Anyone else having this problem?
Click to expand...

Could be the rubber starting to loosen up, etc.

Reminds me, maybe I should check mine. I have 2000km on mine now...
 
Hepar said:
How are you getting them tight? I know with mine I used a pair of vice grips on the mounting bracket while I tightened them. Seemed to be a good way to get them nice an snug.
Click to expand...

That is a good idea. I'll give it a shot and see how it works!
 
Well, Eddy and I ran into the same issue as this when installing my lift.

There seemed to be some consensus that there will be "some" play, but I had a lot.

Anyway, tightened them up as best we could and it seemed fine. Now, quite a few months later, I noticed they are loose again. I can turn them by hand with a fair amount of effort. Same Toytec kit with the nylon nuts and everything.

I'm considering going to Toytec to have them take a look. It is so freaking difficult to get a wrench in that space to begin with, so I don't want to monkey around if I don't have to.

I went wheeling last week and they didn't seem to get any looser.
 
atalarico said:
Well, Eddy and I ran into the same issue as this when installing my lift.

There seemed to be some consensus that there will be "some" play, but I had a lot.

Anyway, tightened them up as best we could and it seemed fine. Now, quite a few months later, I noticed they are loose again. I can turn them by hand with a fair amount of effort. Same Toytec kit with the nylon nuts and everything.

I'm considering going to Toytec to have them take a look. It is so freaking difficult to get a wrench in that space to begin with, so I don't want to monkey around if I don't have to.

I went wheeling last week and they didn't seem to get any looser.
Click to expand...

The first time around, it sounded like someone under my car beating on it with hammer...they were really loose. But there's no noise now, just some play when I turn them. Maybe a few more turns with a wrench and we'll be good to go.

Let me know if they have any solutions.
 
ChicagoT4R said:
The first time around, it sounded like someone under my car beating on it with hammer...they were really loose. But there's no noise now, just some play when I turn them. Maybe a few more turns with a wrench and we'll be good to go.

Let me know if they have any solutions.
Click to expand...

When I first put them on, I got them snug enough to where there was zero play. There is still zero play in them today, but it has only been a little over a week.
 
Hepar said:
When I first put them on, I got them snug enough to where there was zero play. There is still zero play in them today, but it has only been a little over a week.
Click to expand...

Have you done any wheeling with them in? Just curious because I'm about to drive 4,000+ miles in 8 days and do a bunch of wheeling and I'm wondering if they will stay tight.
 
ChicagoT4R said:
Have you done any wheeling with them in? Just curious because I'm about to drive 4,000+ miles in 8 days and do a bunch of wheeling and I'm wondering if they will stay tight.
Click to expand...

4000 miles in 8 days?!?!? That's nuts! I was out on the coast this weekend and ran them hard on some pretty bumpy trails. That's been the extent of it.
 
Snap!! this is happening to me too with the 5125's. I can turn the whole shock though. One side is still solid while the driver side has a lot of play. I thought the shop may have just forgot to tighten it down. How the hell did you guys get a wrench up in there?

also while i was feeling around up there i got some weird red fluid/grease on my hands, not sure where it came from.

and... can i drive it safely for a while until i can take it back to the shop?
 
Well Eddy helped me a lot with mine. It was a giant PITA to tighten them with a wrench. I would call the shop and ask them when you can bring them by to get them checked. I wouldn't put it off.

A follow up question for everyone else, is it possible that mine have loosened during the winter? I notice a pretty loud clunk in my rear suspension when I drive after my car sitting out on really cold nights.
 
When I was installing mine I seriously thought about using a one inch hole saw in the floor of the rear cargo area and then a generic body plug for the hole. If they should loosen up that's what will happen!
 
yeah I tried everything i could think of to tighten that upper bolt, (besides anything major like cutting in from the top) I hope I can ride it loose for a little bit cause i cant even get to the shop till im done working tomorrow. dammit, I hate when things don't get done right the first time!
 
Figured out that clunk in the back is the top stud of my drivers rear bilstein shock. Lift was installed about a year ago and it started this week. Passenger side is fine so far. I will try the vise grip and wrench technique. Does anyone know the size of that nut? Any tips?
Thanks guys
 
I'll give an update on my fix. I took it back to the shop and the guy said he had a hard time getting any tools on there. He finally got one of those knuckle sockets and tightened it as much as he could then he tac welded the mount on the shock to the mount on the frame.
 
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