Shop install of rear shocks…

Moved this from another thread I started about front coil spring compatibility between model


I picked up a pair of KYB gas a just rear shocks, and ended up having the shop install everything, as I needed an alignment anyways. picked it up, and am very happy with the ride. Feels like it did new. I did have a look at the install when I got home though, and it doesn’t look as though they were installed the way I thought the (hard to read) instructions showed. Maybe someone can have a look and chime in.

Looks like KYB says the rear upper mount should be sandwiched between the two rubber bushings with the corresponding washers on the outside of each. You can’t see in the pic, but that is how they installed the hardware on the underside of the upper mount, but used a washer between the mount and rubber bushing on the top side. It was done at a very good shop, and my common sense says not to sweat it as it seems it couldn’t hurt anything… but thought I’d see what others think.

 

Looks like they added an extra washer? Are you sure there is one on the bottom side? Both sides the same?

I don't think an extra washer will hurt anything at all.

 

Yep… checked the underside and there’s a washer supporting the bushings… both sides are the same too. I’m coming around to thinking that the way they did it might actually be a bit of an improvement in terms of the topside rubber bushing being isolated from the (probably rusty and rough) 16 year old mount surface by a clean new, form fitting surface… anyway… thanks for your input.

 

Could make noise at some point. It's not going to hurt anything.

 

The rear shocks of these trucks use a rather unique mounting system. Since it’s been almost 3 years since I replaced my rears, I looked up the hardware kit I used, and I’m fairly certain your shop got it right. The upper bushing has a bonded washer that sits on the top of the shock bracket just like your picture is showing, a large washer then the nut on top, and a separate rubber bushing and large washer below the bracket.

All that to say, it’s all good, mate!