Please help with this - suspension

Lifted my 2019 Tacoma TRD OffRoad recently. I used ARB Old Man Emu 3 Inch Lift Kit (Medium Load) - OMEKIT-004 and OME UCAs - UCA0005. I noticed this today. What did I do wrong? It’s like this on both sides. ‍♂️

 

Looks like you are missing the cushion and the retainer?

 

Missing the upper and lower cushon

 

Sorry for the late reply. Noticed and posted this then went on vacation and tried not to think about it. I got back and noticed that not only did I do this on both sides, but the drivers side is bad. I’m going to have to replace the whole upper strut mount

 

Don’t feel bad man.
We all make mistakes. I make them all the time.
Even more so when I’m “learning” for the first time.

The worst part will be decompressing/compressing the spring.

 

Didn't that make a hell of a noise when you drove it afterwards?

 

Thanks for the help. Definitely still learning! Do you think it’ll be ok to drive to my buddies shop to lift up and replace? Or should I not drive with it like that?

 

My gf has been driving it for the last 2 weeks. The day before we went on vacation she told me it had started making a noise. I’ve been busy so I hadn’t had time to look into it. But until it broke thru the upper mount, I dont think it was making any obvious noise.

 

X2
OP, look at it this way.
You will gain experience and some day you will be able to help out some else on TW.
It's all about learning.

 

She's been driving it like that for 2 weeks, what's another day going to hurt? I would have it towed, if the suspension drops out when she hucks it, it's going to get real interesting. Good luck with your truck.

 

I can’t tell you what you should do.
But the assembly isn’t going to fall out easily.
The trucks weight is keeping it in place. The more droop (down travel) you allow the chances go up it might come out. If you look at how it is built, the whole stud/nut would need fall down and out the bottom of the top hat.

I guess what I am saying is, the damage is done. And I am an idiot, and would drive it to my buddies shop. I’d drive it “slow and easy”. But that’s me, and it is my safety and I’d be the one to have to deal with the consequences if something went wrong.

 

I took the chance and drove it to the shop. Made it with no issues. Got it all taken care of except I was a little too aggressive trying to move the sway bar link out of the way and the boot or rubber grease cover slid off it and a lot of grease came out. Is there a way to get that rubber cover back on and get more grease in it or should I just replace it? They’re not expensive and should be pretty easy to swap out so I’m leaning that way but looking for input. Thanks for all the help. Also attached pictures of the worn strut mount and some damage to the strut rod itself.