Rear Shock Mounting Location

I noticed a few months ago that the body of the rear shock on the driver side of my truck was making contact with the side of the bucket that the top of the shock mounts in under the bed of the truck. That was of course bad for several reasons, I thought to myself that maybe it was because there is a 1.5" block in the back that could possibly change some angles but it still didn't make much sense to me. So I replaced my rear bump stops the other day and just figured I would pull this rear shock out while I'm in there and see whats going on. The boot on the Bilstein 5100 was all torn up from making contact with metal, so I had to replace that boot as well. So after having the shock out from under the truck I noticed that the bucket where the shock mounts has two holes that both look like they are meant to hold the top of the shock. One hole looks almost perfectly round and the other is shaped slightly more like an oval. When remounting the repaired shock I simply just mounted it in the other spot so now it sits at a different angle and doesn't make contact with anything like it's supposed to be and now matches the angle that the passenger side rear shock sits at. I will include some pictures, I was just curious why the driver side would have two mounting holes that both look like they're meant to hold the shock and the passenger side only has one available mounting hole up top. In the pictures my shock was for some reason mounted in the hole on the right instead of the hole on the left and as a result you can see where everything was making contact.

 

Bumping this. I just purchased a Tundra and ran into the same issue. Is the left hole correct?

 

Good eye on this to the OP. I have no idea, but would like to hear from someone that does.

 

@empty_lord

 

Looking at my rebuild posts, it appears I used the inboard hole, which is where the original shock was located...?

Scroll down through this post and look at the photos of my rear frame area

My 2001 TRD Access Cab Rebuild/Repair/Modify Thread

I did use stock shocks, though..

 

It should go in the rear hole, I just tightened the upper bushings on both of my rear shocks.

 

i'll have to look.. never noticed. i did my shocks while the bed was off

 

I’ll crawl under tomorrow, but a cursory look this morning looks like the 2002 has a different bracket design? I’ll know more tomorrow when I’m wearing my Ghettique Apparel.

 

My ex wife just slapped your face.

 

Don’t forget gloves for those hands....

 

Alright, I got under there to move the shock. It only took five minutes. First disappointment, the shock nut was finger tight. The PO said he put new shocks on earlier this year. Second, the shock condition. Boot is obviously shot and needs to be replaced. The threaded area of the shaft is bent for some reason. And there is quite a dent/wear area at the top of the shock body. I don't know if it will actually have any effect since the piston probably doesn't get that close to the end but I guess I can email Rancho and find out. I'll drive it tomorrow and I'm expecting that the clunk I noticed will be gone.

 

Yeah. Crawled under yesterday and looks like my shock is in the rear most hole. Stoked.

 

It’s nice knowing you’ve had it in the right hole all these years, right?

 

I wonder what that other hole is for?

I yeah I’m glad I don’t have to fix something unnecessarily done wrong. 4Wheel Place did a nice job on my truck suspension.

 

Weight saving speed hole.

Probably.

 

Yeah. Its aerodynamic.

 

Black Tundras have a third hole.

 

Just FYI, that boot really isn't necessary. Many don't even come with it. But the other things you mentioned are concerning. Rear shocks are pretty cheap. I would probably just replace them.

 

100% correct. A lot of people frown on them, especially mudders. They can hold moisture and do more harm than good if not properly weeped on the bottom. They aren't necessary.

 

Alright, I'll consider replacing that one shock. I am curious to hear back from Rancho on their opinion (I emailed them). The truck really doesn't ride very well but it has been many years since I have owned a pickup so it could just be that I need to adjust my standards. I've been reading lots of threads here and Rancho doesn't seem popular at all. I know that shocks are one of the biggest players in terms how how good the ride will be so I might just swap all of them out for something else.

If you guys are curious, I can take some pictures of the truck and give an overview. Thanks for everyone's help.

 

Honestly you are very unlikely to improve the ride by replacing the rear shocks. Leaf springs have a lot more impact. Replacing your front shocks might also help depending on what you have up there.

 

Its pretty common for diy jobs to go this way for rear shocks on these trucks.

Regardless I agree with @FirstGenVol 100%. Install the shock without the boot for now and order up a new pair of rear shocks.

With the bent shaft end it will still get you by but could break any time now that its being aligned properly. From how far up the body of the shock went, up enough to smash itself on the bracket, and how short the shaft looks when discounting the threaded section, I would say the piston inside will have limited movement from the dent in the body.