KYB shock mounting tip
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 557
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
KYB shock mounting tip
Almost a week ago I started hearing a little noise from the front right as I went over bumps but strangely not quite in sync with the bumps. When it grew louder, I checked and was surprised to see the passenger-side shock had lost not only the top nut but the top washer and top bushing/grommet.
I couldn't find an exact bushing/grommet and couldn't find one of those curved washers at all so I used flat and replaced the nut (3/8" fine thread) with a Nylon insert lock nut and have now replaced the nuts on all four KYB's with lock nuts. (Just this time last year I replaced my worn-out Bilsteins with KYBs and have been very happy with them.)
I don't know why KYB doesn't provide lock nuts as vibration is no doubt the cause of the nut loosening but doing the job twice is a little maddening, especially the rear shocks where the upper mounting plate has to be removed. Adding a lock washer won't do the job unless one really compresses the bushing/grommet.
So a tip: substitute lock nuts for the ones KYB supplies and just do the job once.
John
I couldn't find an exact bushing/grommet and couldn't find one of those curved washers at all so I used flat and replaced the nut (3/8" fine thread) with a Nylon insert lock nut and have now replaced the nuts on all four KYB's with lock nuts. (Just this time last year I replaced my worn-out Bilsteins with KYBs and have been very happy with them.)
I don't know why KYB doesn't provide lock nuts as vibration is no doubt the cause of the nut loosening but doing the job twice is a little maddening, especially the rear shocks where the upper mounting plate has to be removed. Adding a lock washer won't do the job unless one really compresses the bushing/grommet.
So a tip: substitute lock nuts for the ones KYB supplies and just do the job once.
John
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 557
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
I'm going to do a follow-up for a happy reason.
As I said in my original post I couldn't find either an exact bushing/grommet or curved washer and tried to make-do with the best I could find on the after-market. Unfortunately the noise returned and on checking, I found the outside of the after-market rubber bushing had peeled off leaving just the core (perhaps because the bushing was less protected without the proper washer) allowing the shock to bounce up and down against the mounting bracket.
I web-surfed for KYB, wrote Tech Support and within an hour they replied saying they were shipping the parts today at no charge. Pretty good customer service!
John
As I said in my original post I couldn't find either an exact bushing/grommet or curved washer and tried to make-do with the best I could find on the after-market. Unfortunately the noise returned and on checking, I found the outside of the after-market rubber bushing had peeled off leaving just the core (perhaps because the bushing was less protected without the proper washer) allowing the shock to bounce up and down against the mounting bracket.
I web-surfed for KYB, wrote Tech Support and within an hour they replied saying they were shipping the parts today at no charge. Pretty good customer service!
John
