Shock/strut problem

[evansz95]

I recently helped a buddy replace his xreas shock system with bilstein shocks and struts. We did the swap with minimal problems but when we set it down off the lift we noticed that the top part of the drivers side strut stuck up about a quarter to a half inch higher than the passenger. And now when he hits a bump it hits the wheel well. Is there something we might've messed up or missed that would cause this? Everything is tight and we double checked everything. Any help or ideas would be very appreciative. It is the very top part of the shock that sticks through the mount. It has a nut on it and the top is flattened on to side to grab with a wrench.

 

[evansz95]

Here are some pictures the first one is the passenger side which is fine the second one is the drivers side after we set it down off the lift. they both looked fine before setting it down.

 

[Refined]

On the driver's side there's the extra stud length below the nut. Might have something to do with it? It doesn't appear to have that on the passenger side. Could be the assembly of the shock itself.

 

[evansz95]

I thought that something was wrong with the assembly, so we measured and the truck sits exactly level, it doesnt lean one way or anything. the only thing out of place is that extra lenght

 

[cpark_12]

Did y'all assemble the struts, our did they come pre assembled?

 

[jacob7071]

I'd bet you're missing the bottom washer on the driver's side that keeps the bushing on the top hat from sliding down the shock shaft. It probably looked fine up in the air under no load, but once you set it down, that bushing got pushed down the shock shaft below where that washer is supposed to be.

BTW, if that's the case, I wouldn't drive it like that. You'd need to disassemble the strut, add the washer and then reassemble.

 

[evansz95]

we assembled them, and thank you, we will pull them off the next chance we get and check for that washer.

 

[t-man]

From the look of those rubber bushings, spend the $30 or whatever it is and replace those. Look pretty dry rotted to me. Then see where it's sitting. I don't know how many miles you have on there, but those things don't last forever.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Looks like the washer and/or bushing under the top plate was not installed.

 

[evansz95]

Thanks everyone for the help and advice, it turns out when we pulled the old shock out the bushing came out with it and we mustve overlooked it when we went back together.