I recently (1 month) installed new KYB mono max shocks in my 93 montero. My wife just took it in today because the brakes were gone. The guy said " whoever put in your shocks did them wrong, they're supposed to be put in with a gun, they're starting to wear". I had to do it with hand tools.
How far down was I supposed to tighten the top nut????? I didnt want to smash the rubber grommet. About 1/4" of thread shows. Thanks

What the ?? How are they wearing? That guy does not know what he is talking about. You dont need an impact gun. Take your truck somewhere else. You are supposed to have some pressure on the rubber things, dont completely crush them and dont let them have any play in them and you are good. HOw are you going to get a gun on there anyway?

Onetime I had fairly new Ranchos on my truck. The guy at the alignment shop told me my shocks were bad and need them replaced. I asked why. He said I compressed it and it has not come up in over 20minutes. Ranchos are not gas charged. It will never come up. The guy said "well your truck must ride like sh**." I hope the alignment was good.

For a Rule of <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />, the nut on the threaded shaft should be tightened until the rubber spacer bulges far enough to become even with the edges of the washers.

Frank

Agreed, the guy telling your wife that false information was full of it.

When I installed my KYBs I used hand tools and cranked them down BY HAND pretty hard until the rubber started to bulge. In that condition, they held up fine over thousands of highway miles AND did fine hitting the trails in Moab.

Ditto. That's how I install my shocks.

x4

I have had my KYBs on my gen1 for a few years now, probably 30-50k miles, I dont remember exactly. I installed them with hand tools.

I have had KYBs on my gen2 for 20-30k miles, installed with hand tools.

I tried looking it up online, there was an article about making the bushing squeeze out to about the size of the washer. So I go look. The bushing is a little bit under the washer(meaning that it doesnt pass the edge of the washer) , no way bulging. and I tried a tool that keeps the shaft from turning and the nut really didnt go any lower. I took it for a ride and I hear squeeking and knocking now. Visually, I see nothing wrong. (I have replaced shocks on other cars with no problems).I was thinking about the bottom eye bolt part, I cant adjust that because a bolt just passes thru it!? Thats whats wearing??? And yeah, you can't fit an impact gun there at all, I noticed that. Well, thanks for all the replies.

Installed with a gun? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> What, are you supposed to shoot them on? Get a new alignment guy. Squeeks could be any number of bushings in the suspension unrelated to the shocks.

When I put the KYB's on my Gen 1, the nuts bottomed out on the threaded shaft before the bushings fully bulged out to the washer diameter. But they are tight, you can't spin the upper portion of the shock with all of the friction the bushings are creating.

Another ditto from me.