Rancho quickLift Loaded shocks HELP!!! Urgentish!

[sbar09]

Hey guys!

So I purchased a full set of Rancho quickLift Loaded shocks from Rockauto. First off, this is the second time I have had rockauto ship me the wrong parts. SUPER displeased. Customer service basically said tough shit send em back. Well I already had two installed (on the driver side) and had two more driver side shocks sitting in my garage....needless to say, the truck lists a little to the right haha.

ANYWAY. got the right parts, got em loaded in. now I have a rattle/clunk on rough roads (dirt/ just about all Michigan roads) from the driver front. Inspected all fasteners including upper ball joint, stabilizer link (which I replaced during this install) tie rod end, lower shock bolt (350lb of torque is hard to achieve with the wheels on the ground. I just loaded it up with red lock tight and set my Aircat 1150 to max) and the 3 top shock bolts.

Now I have heard that Rancho has a bit of a reputation for shipping loose center top strut bolts. From which a rattle may occur. I have attempted to find torque specs for this. I could not. Fords OEM strut calls for 40lb.

Here are my questions...

1 Should I tighten this bolt without knowing the torque value, aka does it matter that much (3/8 ratchet tight?)

2. If this is in fact causing the problem. Should I tighten the bolts to any specific amount since getting a torque wrench in the engine bay is a tad challenging. To clarify. Should I look for a thread length, bushing smush.. anything?? or just tighten until it goes away.

This is a little urgent as I had to drive the expy to work, I have a ratchet set in my trunk, and really dont want a strut flying through my hood at 6am tomorrow on the highway.

Many thanks in advance!!!

 

[sbar09]

Update. I went out to the truck on my break. Tried to tighten the top bolt. It is VERY tight. I couldnt move it while hex holding with a breaker bar and trying to tighten with a box end. Now I am at a loss. Loud rattle, all suspension components tight???

 

[jmidway22]

Wish I had answers for you but unfortunately, I only have similar problems. My 2007 xlt runs 3/4 inch too high with the quicklifts. I wonder if they sent me the wrong ones but they don't have a model number i could find on the products. I get crazy rattle/shaking in front end when i hit certain terrain. gravel roads seem to do it and sometimes sharp holes. But it makes a shaking/noise. I replaced sway bar links/bushings, upper and lower control arms with no luck. They shipped the struts in a loose box with the top pin/bolt pushing through the box. Wonder if they got damaged, because they seem to not handle certain recoiling scenarios. Let me know if you figure anything out, I will still be working through it.

 

[Rancho]

Sorry to revive an old thread but I have the exact same situation, did your find a solution?

 

[BluBlocker]

Hey Rancho,
I don't have an answer other than to say I have the quicklifts on my 2010 and everything sounds solid. I don't think a rattle and clunk is acceptable, especially from a big name like Rancho. If they are under warranty, I would send them back!

 

[Adieu]

350 lbs torque can be achieved by an adult male putting his entire weight somewhere between 18" and 24" down a breaker bar

18" is 1.5 ft so for a hefty guy ~235 lbs
24" is 2 ft so for a leaner guy ~175 lbs

Oh yeah.... since your alignment WILL be out of whack with new coilovers and a different ride height...

1) alignment can be the source of all manner of weirdness
2) exact torque becomes somewhat less relevant since the alignment shop you hopefully visit WILL mess with most or alll of those bolts... (and hopefully retighten it correctly to spec in a professional manner)

PS and iirc, you're supposed to torque stuff down with the lower control arm jacked up to its equilibrium height (distance from the hub to fender AS IF it sat on wheels carrying its own weight), but NOT actually with wheels on or sat on the ground... but then again that position is different on ranchos vs stock suspension, so... idk, eyeball it?

 

[mjp2]

Sorry to revive an old thread but I have the exact same situation, did your find a solution?

How are you sway bar end links looking? Any slop in the bushings?