I know, how could I screw up a shock absorber job? I wished I knew!

Ater 190K miles on the originals I thought it was time so I replaced the fronts with Monroe Reflex. So far so good....wrong. They started "knocking" as soon as I took it for a test drive. Seems I could not tighten the lower bolt enough to "clamp" the new shock. I measured the old -v- new and found the new rubber was much smaller causing the shock to bounce up & down on the bolt.

I then took the new ones off and put the old ones back on and it stoped for 100 m iles, but now these are "knocking" too!

Has anybody else replaced the shocks on a "99"? Did you have any trouble with knocking?

 

On mine, the nuts on top of the front ones had to be tightened with an impact wrench. The paint was too thick to bust with a ratchet. I replaced mine with Rancho and the new bushings all fit.

 

Mine are rattling on the lower bolt.

 

There's a torque for the bolt, did you follow the specs? I used KYB's and had to go with a different shock than the stock one, due to my upgraded springs. The lower mounting flange on the shock was about an eight smaller, so I had to get some hardened washers to fill the gap, then I torqued it to the specs.

 

On the 97 I actually had to spread the lower mounts to get the Bilstiens in. It was a xombination of them crushing on the Monroes and a burr from the sleeve in the bushing. I tightened them down with a 1/2" impact.

Randy

 

___________________________--

I also had the same issue as newriver
The Billys were a little wider than the Monroes
When I put the Monroes on I had to tighten the lower bolt as tight as I could get it with a pipe on a 1/2 breaker bar to stop the clunking and rattling

 

That happened on my left front on our last trip to New Mexico, when i got back I just went to Autozone and got the most heavy duty shock they had listed for the CTD and havent had a problem with it since...I cant even remember what brand it was, but ill look tomorrow if you are interested.

 

There were NO instructions with the Monroes at all. NOTHING. I just used an impact wrench.

 

Mine rattled in the front. I just kept tightening them a little and it went away. It's not tigthened anything crazy or anything.

Also Monroes here but "Gas Magnum".

 

Is the bolt loose in the shock if so they sell sleeves to fit in the bushing, if there is too much gap in the mount i use flat washers to fill it. Worked for me.

 

Go to Sears and ask them if they have some shims for the stocks.

 

No luck at Sears, but I took some 2" fender washers and made them work. Used a 4 foot cheater bar to tighten the lower bolt to snug everything tight. What a pain!