Anyone got tips on installing shocks in a way that keeps the lower mount point from moving around?
Ive tried a bunch of ideas and Ive finally run out. Just cant get this thing to stop banging around under the truck.
Might take it to a shop soon if I cant figure it out I dont want to oval out the holes.

 

are you saying the bolt is loose and keeps coming loose?
I had this problem once. I found out i didn't Tq the bolt enough and was supprised on the TQ required.
Front 4x4:

Bottom bolt, 100 lb-ft

Upper bracket, 55 lb-ft

Upper nut, 35 lb-ft.

 

That was a pretty common issue when those trucks were newer. The lower bolts had to be torqued to 100 ft/lb to properly sandwich the lower shock bushing between the two pieces of steel to hold it still. If it was allowed to move around in there, it would wear at the steel mount and the bushing sleeve until there was even more clearance.

So, you may have to tighten it even more than 100 ft/lb to close up the clearance around the shock bushing. If it's worn really badly, you may even have to put a thin washer in there at one end of the bushing to take up the space.

 

bolt torque is probably well above that. I cranked that down with a big piece of iron pipe for a cheater bar.
Ideally this would have been done with cone nuts with a land welded to both sides so it wouldnt want to move off center. Maybe Ill see about getting something made and welding it to the mount.
I got some king shocks on there now and theyre doing a really good job, so the mount is the weak link now.

 

How old are the bolts. Are they the originals? maybe time to look at new or new higher rated bolts.

 

There is/was a tightening the lower shock mount thread years back that noted the bolt size to find to alleviate this issue.

I'd throw a few searches out regarding lower shock mount...

 

Ive replaced the bolt with a higher rated one of the right size so thats not it either.
the bolt wont make enough clamping force to keep the shock in place, its oval'ing out the hole.
Guess Ill just take it to the shop and have them mess with it