Shock Stem Length

[fixxxer]

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?

 

[adsm08]

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]

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]

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

 

[fixxxer]

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

 

[pjtoledo]

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?

 

[fixxxer]

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]

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.