Busted Shock And Sway Bar Link

[OldCrLvr]

So there we are, the wife and I, driving in the hills to go looking for mud in the Sierras. We were driving down a two lane road (HWY 193) doing about 60MPH when we heard somthing hit the bottom of the truck. we both looked in the mirrors and saw shit flying and rolling in the road. I stopped as soon as I could, maybe 1/4 mile down the road. I got out and looked under the truck and found my drivers side shock was busted. We turned around and I pulled over to see if I could see what the hell I hit. All I could find in was a long bolt with a bushing and another bushing lieing in the road. So I threw it in the bed of the truck and headed home. When I got home I looked under it some more and found the piece I picked up in the road used to be my passangers side sway bar link. So now I am wondering WTF?

 

I can't explain the broken shock, but do you have to use longer links for the sway bar when using a leveling kit? I installed mine 3 months ago. Otherwise I have no idea why it would have broken like that. Does anyone have any ideas on the link or shock?

[dlewis1111]

So there we are, the wife and I, driving in the hills to go looking for mud in the Sierras. We were driving down a two lane road (HWY 193) doing about 60MPH when we heard somthing hit the bottom of the truck. we both looked in the mirrors and saw shit flying and rolling in the road. I stopped as soon as I could, maybe 1/4 mile down the road. I got out and looked under the truck and found my drivers side shock was busted. We turned around and I pulled over to see if I could see what the hell I hit. All I could find in was a long bolt with a bushing and another bushing lieing in the road. So I threw it in the bed of the truck and headed home. When I got home I looked under it some more and found the piece I picked up in the road used to be my passangers side sway bar link. So now I am wondering WTF?

 

I can't explain the broken shock, but do you have to use longer links for the sway bar when using a leveling kit? I installed mine 3 months ago. Otherwise I have no idea why it would have broken like that. Does anyone have any ideas on the link or shock?

Sway bar link - over-torqued upon reinstallation caused the bolt to fatigue and fail. Shock - Did you need longer shocks when you did the level job?

[Zembonez]

Something certainly hit that shock and HARD. That shock rod is a piece of hardened steel. I think you missed what actually caused the damage. Maybe it flipped off of the side of the road?

[OldCrLvr]

So there we are, the wife and I, driving in the hills to go looking for mud in the Sierras. We were driving down a two lane road (HWY 193) doing about 60MPH when we heard somthing hit the bottom of the truck. we both looked in the mirrors and saw shit flying and rolling in the road. I stopped as soon as I could, maybe 1/4 mile down the road. I got out and looked under the truck and found my drivers side shock was busted. We turned around and I pulled over to see if I could see what the hell I hit. All I could find in was a long bolt with a bushing and another bushing lieing in the road. So I threw it in the bed of the truck and headed home. When I got home I looked under it some more and found the piece I picked up in the road used to be my passangers side sway bar link. So now I am wondering WTF?

 

I can't explain the broken shock, but do you have to use longer links for the sway bar when using a leveling kit? I installed mine 3 months ago. Otherwise I have no idea why it would have broken like that. Does anyone have any ideas on the link or shock?

Sway bar link - over-torqued upon reinstallation caused the bolt to fatigue and fail. Shock - Did you need longer shocks when you did the level job?

 

 

Upon innitial instalation of the keys I installed spacers for the shocks. They are only temporary. Front and rear shocks are factory and are shot especially the drivers side rear. So I will be getting correct length shocks for the front in the somewhat near future and the rears ASAP. I actually never touched the sway bar when installing the tortion keys. I was just assuming that since my A arm geometry has changed that that could have the links in a bind.

[OldCrLvr]

Something certainly hit that shock and HARD. That shock rod is a piece of hardened steel. I think you missed what actually caused the damage. Maybe it flipped off of the side of the road?

When we felt it hit we did see shit fly in the rear views. But all I could see was my link when I went back. I thought I saw something cylindrical and black tumbling but couldn't find what ever it may have been. The bottom of my truck is pretty clean for it's age and shows no rust. So it is should be easy to spot where something flung around down there and all I can see is the shock busted. Beats the hell out of me!

[dlewis1111]

Something certainly hit that shock and HARD. That shock rod is a piece of hardened steel. I think you missed what actually caused the damage. Maybe it flipped off of the side of the road?

When we felt it hit we did see shit fly in the rear views. But all I could see was my link when I went back. I thought I saw something cylindrical and black tumbling but couldn't find what ever it may have been. The bottom of my truck is pretty clean for it's age and shows no rust. So it is should be easy to spot where something flung around down there and all I can see is the shock busted. Beats the hell out of me!

 

 

Maybe you ran over a wookie....

[OldCrLvr]

I put my new shocks on the rear. Holy Guacamole, the rear is so much better! The shocks came with the boots but I didn't put them on. My research came up with people saying that dirt and gunk can get trapped in their and prematurely wear out the seal for the shaft.

[FargoZ71]

I had a drivers side shock break in the same place @ 63k miles. Was just driving in town. It happens.. I went Monroe Reflexes.. alot go with bilsten HD's.

[FargoZ71]

Something certainly hit that shock and HARD. That shock rod is a piece of hardened steel. I think you missed what actually caused the damage. Maybe it flipped off of the side of the road?

 

 

I broke one driving in snow.. it happens..