Loose Shock

[GatorFan]

As I was going over one of those speed bumps I heard this wierd noise coming from under the truck (passenger side). It sounded like a beer can full of rocks. It was raining that day so I blew it off. This morning it finally stopped raining here so I go under the truck and start tapping on stuff to see if I can locate the noise. I grabbed everything I could think of and nothing. As I was beginning to think I was hearing things I happened to grab the front shock and BEHOLD, it was loose. I have never in my life seen a shock come loose like that. Has anyone else have this happen to them. I mean it just started making the noise yesterday. The nut must have come undone about 1/2 an inch. WTF?

[marko]

No, but I've blown up a shock before.

 

Your truck is a 2000? Sounds to me like the rubber bushing just gave up the ghost. Unless it was the lower bolt.

 

What can be said? Sh*t happens. If the bushings are fine then do up the bolt and loctite it. Any bolt that can be tightened can be loosened!

[TexasAl]

Same thing happened to my buddies F350. We where on our way to the store, and I help hearing a weird thump coming from the passengers side. He said he had been hearing it for a few weeks, but could not find the source. I looked at the shock, and it was still bolted on there, but there was no bushing left. Scarry stuff. We could not find the bushing, so we ended up buying another shock. Good Luck.

 

-Al

[Zembonez]

If you don't tighten the shock at the top until it bottoms out on the threads, it will loosen over time. Many people just tighten them until the bushing is compressed somewhat and call it good. Once it gets a little bit loose the nut spins freely until it has a ton of play in it. It's a big problem on offroad buggies... so much so that they actually tack weld the nut to the shaft once it is tight or drill and safety wire it.

[GatorFan]

Finally got some free time and went at it with my Craftsman 3/4" Ratchet Wrench and some loctite (I would like to shake the hand of the guy who thought of the idea of ratchet wrenches ). I tightened the shiznit out of it so the ProComp 3000 wouldn't become a missile as I drove down the road. I am going to put 4 new shocks on it pretty soon because the ProComps are almost 6 years old and have taken a beating. Don't know which ones I will buy next. Too many options out there and I WILL NOT begin another post about..."which shocks do you have and which are the best ones..." I figure it's my money and my choice right