Loose washer and bushing on struts

My son recently had new suspension but on his 99 Tacoma PreRunner. Had a local mechanic install it. I took it to smog it today and noticed a clanking, popping sound from the front on bumps. Got under there to look and noticed the washer and rubber bushings on top of the struts are loose and the shock rod is off center. The front shocks are 3" lift Sky Jackers and he reused the OEM springs. New leafs on the back also. Did the mechanic install these wrong or are the springs toast? It feel like there is another rubber bushing under the hat. Should there be 2 bushing on the top? If the install is wrong, any tip on how to fix it. I called the shop and they have no record of the job even though i have a estimate for the work and the guy who did it doesn't work there anymore so they won't warranty it. I'm assuming he did it under the table, took the money and didnt run it through the system. Any help is appreciated. I am very mechanically inclined so im want to fix it myself but need to know whats wrong with it. Thanks.

 

Yeah that ain’t right. That top bushing shouldn’t be - whatever’s going on there​

Here’s mine

 

What year is your truck.
I’ll see if I can get a diagram for you.

 

1999 Pre Runner

 

Is there a rubber bushings under your top washer?

 

Yep.

 

That is what I was looking for.
That seems to be the problem here.

 

Yeah that bushing should be much lower. I’m not sure it’s the right one either - my shocks didn’t come with them and I had to order them separately. Hm.

 

Watch the Timmy the Tool Man video on shock replacements. Those are supposed to torque to 18 ft/lbs but he felt like it didn't have enough so he tightened them down until he could see threads. You may just need to make sure the rubber is aligned with the hole, put some locktite on the threads and tighten them down, but don't take that as gospel as I haven't done coilovers yet and am just passing along what I've learned.

Edit: here it is at the point where he's talking about the center nut.

https://youtu.be/0HJx6HH2yno?t=557

 

Here’s what happens if you assemble it without said bushing.

Those threads only go down so far.

 

Yup. The bushing is on the top but it seems like something under the hat is missing allowing the strut to come up to far once the weight of the truck is set on it.

 

Best I can find.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/please-help-me-find-these-“strut”-mount-washers.644789/

 

Figured it out. The bottom washer is missing damnit. At least i know now.

 

This helped alot, thanks!

 

Thanks!

 

Just remember that nut should hold the coil spring pressure when done correct.

I have no idea if it is under tension now . You will need to compress the spring to install this correct.

 

One question I have is why would this installer have put 3" lift shocks on with the stock springs? That means there's -0- lift with shocks meant for a 3" lift. It doesn't add up...

 

The assumption is the “local mechanic” knows lifted vehicles. Also the LM was probably just doing what they were told.

 

I suspect that the skyjacker shocks work the same way as the bilstein 5100s, the spring mount is just in a different place on the shock body in order to give lift with stock springs.

skyjackers website is woefully short on details though so I could be wrong on that.

 

They are adjustable like Bilstein 5100s. It was a full kit front and back with new leaf springs, shocks and adjustable fronts. They also did JBA upper control arms. Then he put 35x12.5s on new wheels.