Monroe OESpectrum Shocks

[TheSpeakGeek]

I have hit the 174k mark on my '03 4Runner and have decided I want to drive it for another 100k. I am doing a ton of work replacing worn out parts like the CV shafts, front struts, calipers, rotors, pads etc. I live in the rust belt and nothing about any of this has been easy. I am down to bolting the new rear shocks in place which should be no problem right? I am using Monroe OESpectrum 37270 shocks that I got from RockAuto. After putting on all of the washers and rubber bushings, there is no room to put the top nut on. I compared the old rubber bushing to the new one and it is 2x as tall and no amount of compressing things will give me any extra room. My question is, has anyone succesfully installed these shocks before? If so, what the heck am I doing wrong? If not, can anyone please point me to a source to buy a new rubber bushing like the old OEM one? Mine is all chopped up from cutting the top bolt off the old shock.

 

[CruzadoBlanco]

you have to have the truck on its own weight, then rock it side to side helps some to settle everything. should give you enough clearance to just get the nut started. its like that for almost all the shocks on 4th and 5th gens since they have to give you space to slide everything in since the space between the body and frame is so small

 

[truckhigh]

pull the bottom out and mount the nut first or pry the shock down nd slide the bushing nut in there.

 

[TheSpeakGeek]

you have to have the truck on its own weight, then rock it side to side helps some to settle everything. should give you enough clearance to just get the nut started. its like that for almost all the shocks on 4th and 5th gens since they have to give you space to slide everything in since the space between the body and frame is so small

Thanks for the reply. I just went out to the garage to give this a try. I put the wheels back on and lowered it down to put the full weight of the truck on everything. I shook the crap out of it hoping to hear it pop and maybe settle a litte. It doesn't look like I got any extra room. I swear these bushings are too tall.

 

[brianhuntRVA]

Do you have something between the lower bushing and the mount? I can't remember if there is supposed to be a washer in that space. If so, are you sure you have it oriented correctly?

 

[TheSpeakGeek]

pull the bottom out and mount the nut first or pry the shock down nd slide the bushing nut in there.

I will give that a try on the other side since I'm replacing it too. That replacement shock is still in the box and hasn't been touched so it is still compressed and all. Going to run out to the garage and give that a shot now.

 

[TheSpeakGeek]

pull the bottom out and mount the nut first or pry the shock down nd slide the bushing nut in there.

I took the passenger side rear shock off. I didn't even attempt to take the top nut off, I just cut straight through it with the sawzall and metal cutting blade. I started at the top and tried to get the bushings, washers, and nuts secured. No luck, there just doesn't seem to be enough threads exposed on top to get the nut on. I even put a floor jack under the bottom end and tried pushing it together to see if the bushing would compress a little. Again no luck. I swear that these bushings are wrong. They seem thicker that the OEM ones. I don't really see a different way to assemble everything either

 

[Blacklabs]

I used Monroes on my daughters 2006 no issues. I would make sure the bushings fit into the mounting holes one at a time, lower then upper without the shock in place. May need some rust cleaned out of the way for them to fit in properly. There was not much room to start the nut but once it was torqued down it was fine. Had them on over a year now. Replaced the fronts with the quick struts from Monroe. No issues good ride. (2wd)

 

[radlynx]

it looks like you have to trim that new mounting rubber off a bit, remove a quarter part of the rubber for both using a cutter. when I did mine, I used the same Monroe shocks, I ended up reusing my old rubber from the old shock.

 

[inscarguy]

try this. it has worked for me on other vehicles. get a pair of adjustable pliers with a big opening or a large pair of vise grips. put the plier or vise grip on the top washer and the frame mount and squeeze, this might give you enough to start the nut on the threads.

or try a pry bar and use part of the frame as leverage and push down on the top washer. this might help too.

good luck.

 

[TheSpeakGeek]

try this. it has worked for me on other vehicles. get a pair of adjustable pliers with a big opening or a large pair of vise grips. put the plier or vise grip on the top washer and the frame mount and squeeze, this might give you enough to start the nut on the threads.

or try a pry bar and use part of the frame as leverage and push down on the top washer. this might help too.

good luck.

I finally got the shocks on today; your suggestion finally did the trick. I took a gigantic pair of channel locks and squeezed things together enough to get the nut just barely started. And then was able to crank down on it with a wrench. Thanks everybody for your ideas. It all came together.

 

[Morphyne]

I just did this with bilsteins and I had to use a small pry bar to wedge in btween the metal fender well liner and the shock top mount. Dicey but it works.