With a friend's help, we checked out the rear suspension and differential mounts to find what was making the noise when hitting bumps. Here is our findings:
1. No cracked shock mount on tube shock conversion. Frame was fine.
2. Differential mounts looked fine.
3. Shock bolts tight.
4. Missing outer rubber boots on both sides.
5. Bottom part of shock - part that goes into mount and is bolted up - was bent almost 1/2 inch. We bent it back with a bar and socket but it would not straighten completely. After reassembly, he bounced the bumper while I felt around for the source of the noise - still present but not as loud. It seemed to be coming from that bent shock. We believe the piston was somehow cocked in the barrel of the shock and that was causing the noise. After checking the local auto parts stores - they had none in stock, we left the defective shock in place and I drove home.
Question 1. Has this happened to anyone before with a tube shock conversion? It may be that the different angle between the swing arm radius and the shock caused the shock part to bend.
Question 2. Did the installation of the Goodparts spacers aggravate the problem or cause it? The noise started after the spacers were installed.
Question 3. Perhaps the mounting bracket should be bent or realigned so that the angles coincide more closely.
Question 4. My friend has ordered the in-coil shock kit to replace his tube shock conversion. This would seem to cure the problem completely.
Question 5. If the problem was not a defective shock but was caused by the conversion, would it not be a waste of money and time to install a new KYB 343138 shock that would be subject to the same stresses? What would you do?
Any ideas or thoughts would be welcome for sure. Thanks.
1. No cracked shock mount on tube shock conversion. Frame was fine.
2. Differential mounts looked fine.
3. Shock bolts tight.
4. Missing outer rubber boots on both sides.
5. Bottom part of shock - part that goes into mount and is bolted up - was bent almost 1/2 inch. We bent it back with a bar and socket but it would not straighten completely. After reassembly, he bounced the bumper while I felt around for the source of the noise - still present but not as loud. It seemed to be coming from that bent shock. We believe the piston was somehow cocked in the barrel of the shock and that was causing the noise. After checking the local auto parts stores - they had none in stock, we left the defective shock in place and I drove home.
Question 1. Has this happened to anyone before with a tube shock conversion? It may be that the different angle between the swing arm radius and the shock caused the shock part to bend.
Question 2. Did the installation of the Goodparts spacers aggravate the problem or cause it? The noise started after the spacers were installed.
Question 3. Perhaps the mounting bracket should be bent or realigned so that the angles coincide more closely.
Question 4. My friend has ordered the in-coil shock kit to replace his tube shock conversion. This would seem to cure the problem completely.
Question 5. If the problem was not a defective shock but was caused by the conversion, would it not be a waste of money and time to install a new KYB 343138 shock that would be subject to the same stresses? What would you do?
Any ideas or thoughts would be welcome for sure. Thanks.