Strut swap went bad. Now my TACO handles aweful.

Hi all,

I took my truck to a local repair shop to replace original front Tokikos with Blistein. After they took out the struts and uncompressed the coil, they realized Blistein I brought has the wrong size eek:, my fault), so they put original Tokikos back to the truck. After that, the truck handles awefully. I hear noise from the suspension, steering is not precise as it used to be. Bumps are rougher than before.

I would like to conclude that the mechanic did not put back the Tokikos properly (hurry up job). Or is it possible that he had mixed up left and right struts? Or do I just need an alignment to correct the handling?

Please help. Thanks.

 

Welcome to TW.

As long as it was put back correctly and all they did was remove the shocks/springs then put them back on you shouldn't need an alignment.

As far as I know springs are never handed....shocks yes, but that's for remote resi.

If your steering is loose check your tie rods and sway bar. Maybe they removed those and didn't put them back on correctly. Could be many many things when some garage messes with your truck.

 

just get the right parts and have him finish the job...

 

if he took the coilover apart, like he took the spring away from the shock? he might have put the coil spring back upside down.

 

Sounds like something wasn't re-installed correctly.

Maybe he accidentally flipped the coil perches

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

this is a distinct possibility

 

I think you guys are on the path to right diagnosis. Thanks. Is there any way to visibly tell the coil springs if they are reversed? The mechanic may deny that he did anything wrong.

 

post up a pic

 

If the spring perch is on correctly , it'll look like a "bell", & if done wrong it'll look like a ...well...an upside down "bell" ....haha


Also check the config. on all grommetts/bushings/ retainer cups..

make sure they're all there & just as important, make sure they're in the right order for proper assembly..

For the record, I'm astounded by the number of "Legit" repair shops that are totally clueless as to the "rights" & "wrongs" of coil over struts....

 

if the coil perch was flipped, wouldnt his front be riding high?

 

Well, probably so, but the issue would be a coil spring slopping around with compression/decompression because it isn't seated properly, not that the added preload helps any...

 

Aren't the perchs welded to the shock body on the Tokikos?

 

This I do not know senore~

 

Yes spring perches are welded on. No possibility of that mechanic flipping those haha. I know cause i have set sittin in my garage.