Snapped Strut? Very Springy (Left Rear Driver's Side)

[alphaeighteen]

So looking like one of my struts snapped this weekend. I just picked up this truck last weekend so I'm unsure what I should replace it with ( or if I should just replace both sides ?). It looks like the truck has something like a 2-3inch lift on it.

I was looking at rockauto and was just going to replace both with some Bilstein B8 5100 shock absorbers.
Does this look like the way to go?

Let me know if I'm missing anything.
Thanks

 

[MDarius]

So looking like one of my struts snapped this weekend. I just picked up this truck last weekend so I'm unsure what I should replace it with ( or if I should just replace both sides ?). It looks like the truck has something like a 2-3inch lift on it.

I was looking at rockauto and was just going to replace both with some Bilstein B8 5100 shock absorbers.
Does this look like the way to go?

Let me know if I'm missing anything.
Thanks

View attachment 2362711

More pictures of what actually broke. "Struts" are shocks inside springs, they are mounted together. This is a shock. You have different problems. Did the lower shock mount break?
Did the nut just back off the mounting hardware?
Did it just happen when you were driving or were you testing the limits off-road?



We all break stuff and are generally happy to help.

 

[greentruck]

FYI, if there's a lift on the truck (taller coils than stock), you'll need a longer than stock shock.

If it's not lifted, then the standard OEM Tokico shocks available from the dealer are a decent and cost-effective solution if it's the shock. As was already noted, if the shock mounting is damaged, then you've got bigger problems.

 

[BILT4ME]

So looking like one of my struts snapped this weekend. I just picked up this truck last weekend so I'm unsure what I should replace it with ( or if I should just replace both sides ?). It looks like the truck has something like a 2-3inch lift on it.

I was looking at rockauto and was just going to replace both with some Bilstein B8 5100 shock absorbers.
Does this look like the way to go?

Let me know if I'm missing anything.
Thanks

View attachment 2362711

Looks to me like you broke the plunger rod of the shock near the end of its travel.

What were you doing when this broke?

This is NOT a common failure on these, so something harsh took place. You may have other problems as well now.

As the others above have said, you will need to do something more than stock length shocks if you have a lift.

1) Remove the broken shock so it doesn't do more damage like rip off a brake line.
2) Find the part number from the broken shock. It is stamped into the bottom of the lower body, especially if it is a yellow OME shock.

 

[alphaeighteen]

Looks to me like you broke the plunger rod of the shock near the end of its travel.

What were you doing when this broke?

This is NOT a common failure on these, so something harsh took place. You may have other problems as well now.

As the others above have said, you will need to do something more than stock length shocks if you have a lift.

1) Remove the broken shock so it doesn't do more damage like rip off a brake line.
2) Find the part number from the broken shock. It is stamped into the bottom of the lower body, especially if it is a yellow OME shock.

Good question. I picked this up from Oregon and drove it back down to LA and did some forest and fire roads, so nothing too harsh. May have hit a couple of bumps at a quick speed but nothing too major I don't think. It may have entirely already been broken when I picked it up but noticed it when I got back down here that when I was hopping up and down on the tailgate it was super springy. I'll remove it later this evening to see if I can figure out what the model number is.

 

[retrofive]

Lots of shock options out there. What is goal use for the truck? Stock or those Blist's are just fine if keep in more stockish fashion. Like mentioned, if lifted that changes some things.

 

[retrofive]

And yes, better pics of that area would help. Any and all angels.

 

[MDarius]

I was looking at that pic on my phone and couldn't tell what was going on. I see it now. Yeesh! Yeah, get some light in there. If you can remove the broken pieces then take some pictures of the mounting areas this group can give you more assistance. As stated, it looks like maybe you aggressively hit the end of the travel on an old shock that was mis-matched to your lift. I am surprised there wasn't a "shocking" sound that went along with that.

 

[thatcabledude]

Oh I see it now. Yikes

 

[MDarius]

Also, share some pictures of the truck overall. It's helpful to see the stance...does it sit level, how high does it sit...is it cool, is it moonglow pearl...things like that.

 

[retrofive]

Thinking about this for a min. With that damage I wonder what the upper funky plate looks like? Twisted, torqued, bent? The stud on bottom although vulnerable, that top plate had to have something tweaked no??

 

[thatcabledude]

Are those stock shocks? Just noticed the mention of possible 2-3” lift.

 

[MDarius]

Are those stock shocks? Just noticed the mention of possible 2-3” lift.

I read that too, but there are only 6 wraps on the spring. Seems pretty short for a 2-3 inch lift. I think my Medium lift has 8 or 9 wraps.

 

[alphaeighteen]

I've attached some pics of the broken strut that I removed and it's pretty bad. Not sure how that happened or if it was already like that. I'm pretty new at this but also somewhat mechanically inclined. I've attached some pics of the mounting brackets as well as the truck itself.

 

[alphaeighteen]

Looks like on mobile I'm only limited to 5 photos per post. Here are some more

 

[MDarius]

It's hard to tell in the picture if the bracket is twisted. It should be a little bit twisted to get the angle on the shock. That dent in the shock body looks like it got banged against the wheel arch of the frame rail. That means lateral motion in the axle, which I don't think you should have.

If those are 31" tires it doesn't look like you have a lift. If you do, it's small.

Did you have any big articulation on those fire roads?

I'd start with a suspension upgrade.

What's your vision for this rig? How do you want to use it?
How do you want it to look?

 

[alphaeighteen]

It's hard to tell in the picture if the bracket is twisted. It should be a little bit twisted to get the angle on the shock. That dent in the shock body looks like it got banged against the wheel arch of the frame rail. That means lateral motion in the axle, which I don't think you should have.

If those are 31" tires it doesn't look like you have a lift. If you do, it's small.

Did you have any big articulation on those fire roads?

I'd start with a suspension upgrade.

What's your vision for this rig? How do you want to use it?
How do you want it to look?

They're actually 33s. I didn't notice any big articulations besides some bigger ruts.

I think the rig looks fine as it is right now so don't want to change it too much (and it won't clear my garage if it's lifted anymore). I'm mainly going to plan to use this on mountain/ fire roads and some light touring in Death Valley. I will not be rock crawling with this.

 

[BILT4ME]

That is a Gabriel 747927 Shock Absorber.

Gabriel eBay link

Looks like it's a stock replacement. This site gives dimensions so you can compare to stock or OME or Bilstein.


You're lucky you didn't cut a tire with that one. It looks like it got bit between the frame and the axle housing.

 

[MDarius]

On your spring in the picture it looks like there is a paper tag on the 2nd coil from the top.

Can you clean that enough to see what it says? If it's what I think it is there should be a number on it. That number can be translated pretty easily to identify what lift height you're at. That will help figure out what size shock you need. You might need to use your phone camera to see if the number is somewhere your eyes can't get to.

I suppose you could just go with shocks from the medium lift kits that are around. It would probably be a safe bet. That spring number would just dial it in though.

 

[BILT4ME]

The stock Tokico shocks are long enough to cover up through the 2.5" lift, with less articulation.