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Shock Stem Length


fixxxer

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On a stock 1998 Ranger XLT 2WD w/coil suspension, why are the replacement shock stems 1" too short? The computer says yes, but physics says no.

I realize the intelligent thing to do would have been to get the data stamped on the installed shock, but that didn't happen. Before I tear it down again to look - any ideas what I'm missing?

 
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adsm08

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One of several things may have happened.

You may have gotten a mis-boxed part, you may have been given the wrong part, or the store/website may have had an erroneous listing.

I would start by checking that the box and your receipt have the same part numbers, and then verify on Monroe's website that that number is supposed to fit your truck.
 

fixxxer

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Part numbers match the Monroe website. That’s where I went to get the info to order from in the first place.

The parts guy pulled a couple other Monroe shocks that should have fit - according to the computer. All had the same length stem. He didn’t have other brands in the building to compare with. I’d have like to have seen a Bilstein or KYB, but they didn’t have any.
 

adsm08

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Have you tried putting it in? Perhaps it was built to have less stud sticking up past the nut.
 

fixxxer

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I did. The stud isn’t long enough after the bushing and washer to catch even a single thread on the nut.
 

pjtoledo

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your picture shows only 1 old bushing, so we have to ask if the other half is still in the frame.
the old bushings are shorter, do they fit?
try raising the lower control arm a bit to fully seat the shock in the frame.

with the shocks out of the truck do the new bushings fit and have a gap for the frame?
 
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fixxxer

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After I posted the last response, I almost instantly realized lifting the vehicle dropped the lower control arm.

Shocks fit.

I'm a retard.

Ford shock part number was F87A-18045-AH
 

adsm08

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After I posted the last response, I almost instantly realized lifting the vehicle dropped the lower control arm.

Shocks fit.

I'm a retard.

Ford shock part number was F87A-18045-AH
Everyone does stuff like that.

One day I left work with a customer because we were slow and he was trying to describe his issue, and he wasn't describing it very well. I just knew that he couldn't get his strut back in the knuckle after replacing a CV shaft, and thought it was because we sold him the wrong part.

I went back to his house with him and looked at it. He couldn't get it back together because he had the jack stand under the lower arm, no downward flex.
 

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