This is a 2001 F-150 XLT, 155K miles. Took it into an auto shop here in town because of alignment pulling to the right. They recommended changing out shocks and struts (almost certainly overdue).

When I went to check on the work I noticed this. In short, the left-side shock is pointing rearward and the right-side shock is pointing forward. Is this actually normal and I never noticed? If not, are they sometimes mounted like this? I'd appreciate some info on what's going on here. I did notice the mounting point on one of them looks different (circled).






Looking down the axle from the left side.

I can get better pictures tomorrow if you want to see attachment points... I shot this at 1:30 am outside.

 

I have a 2002 xlt my shocks are both mounted to the rear.

 

It's normal, some wheel bases had it some didn't. It's suppose to perform better than having them both in the same direction if I remember right.

 

Looks like you're right, I did some digging in Google and found this thread. Someone said "SuperCAB had both towards rear. SuperCREW were staggered." Something about the bed weight being very close to the axle.

What a relief, I was really worried the repair shop did a hack job.

 

Yes that is normal.

Besides, I don't think anyone would've taken the time to grind off and re-weld the mounts on. Then again, I've seen weirder things...

 

Consider this; the axle housing will try to rotate about the axles in either direction for acceleration or braking as a normal reaction to the braking resistance and torque application from the driveshaft.
If the shock mountings are both on the same plane, the rear of the truck will either try to rise of lower depending on which way both are mounted and whether braking or accelerating.
With shock mounting in both planes, it essentially dampens or prevents the rear rise or fall of the frame position in relation to the road surface.
Said another way, one shock tries to extend, the other tries to compress and hopefully cancel or limit the overall axle housing twist.
The axle housing twist transfers that twist to the leaf springs that then acts on the frame trying to either raise or lower the frame position if the shocks don't limit or eliminate it by how they are mounted.
Replacement shocks should be good double acting type, meaning about the same dampening on compression as on rebound.
Good luck..

 

I think it's more of a V6 vs V8 thing as far as which ones are staggered.

Depending on payload, cab, engine etc



Staggered helps with axle wrap and subsequently wheel hop