So a little background for you. Two weekends ago I was racing at our local track. On the drive home I hear this clicking/ticking sound. Only happened at around 1500 rpm in 3 gear. Next day checked all the plugs. NO problems, checked the tranny fluid and it's full of shavings.

Take it in to the local SVT dealer and they say a snap ring broke in the tranny. No big deal THANKFULLY. But I figure while I'm in there I am gonna strengthen it up. So I put in a stage 1 kit and convertor.

Called the shop yesterday and they say no probs just gotta do a test drive and you can come by and pick it up. At this point I'm really excited to get my truck back.

So I drive up and don't see my truck anywhere in the parking lot. Go inside and find out that during the test drive the guy crossed some train tracks and broke a rear shock! (broke the stud off the top of the shock)

SO my question to you guys is how the heck do you break a shock? Did this guy air my truck out?

Oh and to top it off NOBODY has a replacement shock as I've got shorter Bilstiens in there. Oh and incase anybody is thinking that caused it...I have got the Steeda axle relocation drop so it has been lowered. So I don't think that has anything to do with it.

 

If the shocks were mounted in the stock position with that extreme of a drop then snapping the upper stud on one is not impossible.

Which shorter Bilsteins are you using? I use the ones spec'd for an 99-01 isuzu rodeo/honda passport, they are considerably shorter than stock.

 

Hey Ian,

Yah I'm using the Rodeo shocks as well as you recommended to me awhile ago. They've been great other than this issue. Couldn't believe it when he told me that. Thought to myself was my truck flying or are these train tracks the worst in the world?

They are currently searching for a shock that they can throw in so at least I can have it for the weekend. Hopefully they find one!

 

Check the bump stops and see if you see signs of a severe bottom out. Big concern to me is metal in the tranny pan. That thing needs to come apart and completely cleaned out. If metal circulated through the tranny there is no way possible to flush it clean without a tear down.

 

Thanks for the tip to check Silver-Bolt. I have already had the tranny completely rebuilt. The shock broke on their test drive the day I was supposed to go pick it back up.

 

Mine broke two weeks ago, same problem why? I dont know. bought a new shock and going to send the old one in for warranty.

 

Are you running Bilsteins as well?

 

the stock mounting angle and bracket is a bit tough...one reason I went with RUslow's mounts for my rear shocks.

 

if the frame is off the truck and pretty easy to work with I would box key areas in that will help with the torsional twist.Look at the welds in the front to and if they are stitched then complete them.reinfore the upper control arm mounts/Stan

 

I have the old 2" drop Beltech rear shackles and I broke a stock length Bilstein on the passenger side a couple of weeks ago. It just so happens that I go across some rough train tracks everyday on the way to work but it is a slow speed limit in that area.

The shock broke at the top of the shaft just below the rubber mounts. I kept hearing a rattle everytime I went over a bump in the road. The only thing holding it up was the emergency brake cable.

I was kind of wondering if this had happened to others. This is the first time I have ever broken a shock and I have been driving a long time.

 

Well they didn't find a shock for me so in a Focus I stay. They are saying the earliest will be the end of next week. I'll let you guys know if I see any other damage and how the Stage 1 kit is working!