A Warning About Bilstein Lift Struts

No, this isnt anything having to do with the strut failing. Its my own stupidity

I had been hearing this squeak/rattle from the front suspension for awhile. I didnt notice it till i put the bilstein 5100's on. Finally figured out it was stud in the center of the strut. I KNOW I followed the directions to a T when I installed them. So how could they be loose (maybe I shoulda loctited them?)

Well I went to tighten them and had a heck of a time since they are on the truck and just wanna spin. Spec says 19 ft-lbs, but they still seemed loose. You really cant get a wrench on it and I could only use a pass thru socket and there was no way to hold the stud like you need to with a 1/4" wrench. Funny, my last bilsteins were shocks and had an allen key hole in the top probably for this reason. Anyways I wound up lifting the truck in the air and tightened them down again, which seemed to work since there is now tension on the suspension. Still seemed loose, even at 30 ft-lbs. Ok so I figure, its a 3/8" shaft, it should handle 35-40 ft-lbs.

I was WRONG, VERY, VERY, VERY WRONG. As I was using my milwaukee cordless 1/2" impact I gave the drivers side a few good shots and then I feel nothing-no resistance. Thinking I slipped off the nut I stopped. Nope, sheared the stud RIGHT OFF.

Now I have an undrivable truck, I ordered and overnighted a new set of bilsteins rom shock warehouse and now I have to figure out some time to do this. I ordered up 2 struts b/c I dont know if the other side is really all that great either. Too pissed to take it apart for now and its freezing outside. I had to rent a car as I still have to get to work too. So all in all, about a 500 dollar mistake and probably 2-3 hours wasted time. 260 for the struts, and about 200 for the rental for the week.

This sucks.. You have been warned