Hello, I just installed some new rear shock absorbers for my truck, I hand tightened them and now am about to torque them. I know the suspension is supposed to be under "load" when torqueing anything with bushings, how would I achieve this? Would I just put the back tires back on and lower it? Would that be enough? Thank you.
Would I just put the back tires back on and lower it? Would that be enough?
Of course it's enough. That is the normal ride height.
If there's not enough room underneath to work with the car on the ground, then just jack it up by the suspension. But be careful as there's a higher risk it might shift, so secure it with something.
Thanks man, sorry I am a little slow with these kinds of things lol
The Ranger's lift points for the rear end are specific points on the rear axle itself, just behind the wheels. Put a jack stand under there with the tire off and it'll be loaded just like when it's sitting on the wheels. You really don't even need to take the wheel off. The stand itself is keeping the suspension loaded because the leaf springs support the truck on the rear axle, and the stand is supporting the axle 🙂 jacking up and supporting on the frame rail doesn't do this and leaves the suspension unloaded.
I never bothered with "loading" when I replaced shocks. Only when replacing springs or spring bushings. It's a shock absorber, not a support spring.
Some shocks have bushings, doc.
I know MMJoe they have bushings, but I just never saw the need to pre-load shock absorbers since I already has the wheels off and the vehicle on jack stands anyway.
The bushings twist a bit as the suspension travels up and down.
If your jackstands are on the the axle, then suspension is in it's natural place and all is fine.
If the vehicle is jacked by the frame, then the suspension is hanging, and after the vehicle is lowered, the bushings are in a stressed state.
True, I always put the jack stands under the axle. Thanks for the accurate info.