OEM shocks - Front Top nut

[jwood1284]

For those that have reinstalled/replaced OEM shocks on your 100, how are you getting the front top nut started. The washer/bushing stack is so tall no threads are available. The bushing is so stiff that compressing enough to get the nut started seems impossible. OEM washers are in the correct order/orientation.

Surprisingly, the rears were easy with the flexible ratcheting wrench…

 

[FxFormat]

For those that have reinstalled/replaced OEM shocks on your 100, how are you getting the front top nut started. The washer/bushing stack is so tall no threads are available. The bushing is so stiff that compressing enough to get the nut started seems impossible. OEM washers are in the correct order/orientation.

Surprisingly, the rears were easy with the flexible ratcheting wrench…

I jacked up the shock using a scissor portable jack, when it bottoms out the top will protrude enough to start the nut.

 

[AARONTLC]

I just replaced mine and did not have to Jack anything up. My LC is 100 percent stock. You should be able to install the shock and start the nut easily.

 

[excessive]

I was able to replace my front shocks without even jacking the vehicle up off the ground.

 

[TahoeZ]

If you have the tire off, try putting a second jack under the lower A arm and lifting the entire thing. If the tire is still on, just start lowering your jack until the shock compresses.

 

[jwood1284]

I was able to thread it on by hand doing the following:

Flipped the retainer against the shock body so the concave is down, bushing, centering retainer as normal, retainer, bushing, then flipped the top retainer so the concave is up.

This is the only way top nut would go on without compressing the bushings somehow. This is not what the service manual or parts diagrams show.

Also, looking at the partsouq diagrams, there should be a centering/step retainer on the top AND bottom of the frame mount for the front shocks. I just have one step retainer and three concave retainers per side.

 

[jpneely]

Not helpful, but just replaced mine last week as well. 100% stock. With everything stacked and the centering washers in their groove, the nut threaded on with no extra jacking or lifting of the control arm. I had the truck jacked up and the wheel off for this, so the suspension was in full droop.

 

[jwood1284]

Not helpful, but just replaced mine last week as well. 100% stock. With everything stacked and the centering washers in their groove, the nut threaded on with no extra jacking or lifting of the control arm. I had the truck jacked up and the wheel off for this, so the suspension was in full droop.

How did you orient the washers? Two centering washers up front, or just a single lower one?

 

[jpneely]

How did you orient the washers? Two centering washers up front, or just a single lower one?

Excuse the drawing, my 5 year old could probably do a better job. Shock-> non centering washer-> bushing-> centering washer-> shock Mount-> centering washer-> bushing -> non centering washer-> top nut.

From watching a couple of videos, I was expecting to need to compress them but didn’t end up needing to. Maybe there’s a slight difference in bushing thickness throughout the manufacturing process, not sure.

 

[jwood1284]

Thanks. I think I found the problem. When I ordered the retainers I added all the parts for the rear, then doubled the quantities for the front; not realizing the fronts are different. The front uses two centering retainers and the other two are “flatter” than the concave retainers the rear uses.

I’ve got a few other things to get, so I’ll throw in two more centering retainers.

 

[jpneely]

Thanks. I think I found the problem. When I ordered the retainers I added all the parts for the rear, then doubled the quantities for the front; not realizing the fronts are different. The front uses two centering retainers and the other two are “flatter” than the concave retainers the rear uses.

I’ve got a few other things to get, so I’ll throw in two more centering retainers.

Hope it solves the problem for you! Luckily I was replacing OEM with OEM so it was an easy matching game.