Strut mount shenanigans

I'd use the phone to call Dobsions direct and ask to speak to a technical support person

 

I did, I guess I just wanted to bounce it off the fine folks at TacomaWorld to make sure I wasn't crazy, since the "solutions" are polar opposites.

 

@Crikeymike may be able to help

 

It looks like maybe the top washer was smaller. The struts come with 1 larger diameter washer and 1 smaller one. The smaller goes on the underside of the strut mount, and the bigger one goes on the top, which covers over more of the bushing, so it doesn't blow out like that.

You should probably be able to take that off on the vehicle, put the new bushings and large washer over the top then tighten it down.

It was probably my video you saw, where I explain what can happen if it's not tightened properly.

 

Yes Mike, that was the video. Thanks for chiming in. In the pictures I posted, they were KYB bushings, from a new set of top hats. After seeing the deformation, I ordered a set of dobinsons bushings. You mention a smaller washer, are you referring to diameter or thickness? I noticed that the Dobinsons washers are all the same diameter. Is that normal? I am assuming this is the correct orientation? With the paper symbolizing the top plate?

I also noticed there is a spacer in the package, where is that meant to go?

 

Yes, that's the correct order of washers/bushings.

Your bushings also looked off center at the base, they shouldn't be able to come out of the lip in the top mount itself, so make sure it's aligned with the centering washer properly.

Washer OD, they're like 2". They used to come one wider than the other. If they're the same now, then they're probably both the wider size.

The silver spacer adds strut travel. You can put it on the screwdriver first, then everything else up on top, and you'll get additional down travel. Unless your struts already have it on there, you can't add 2.

 

Yes, the washers I have are about 2". 1.933 to be exact. There's a chance that the raised boss came out of the hole when I was assembling them. I remember having to fiddle with it. My strut already does have a spacer on it, but slightly thinner. I'm confused though, how does that add down travel? It seems like.of anything, it would limit compression. Am I totally failing physics here? It wouldn't be the first time