Squeaky top strut mount/exposed threads

2016 TRDOR 4x4 with bilstien 5100s on the top setting.

So, I offroad quite a bit, especially during hunting season, and Ive had a recurring problem of my drivers side top strut mount squeaking loudly because its (I assume) rattling loose on washboard roads. So often, that I keep a 18mm wrench in the truck to re-tighten it. After hunting last night, the squeak was back, so I went to retighten it and now it doesnt really seem like its getting tight like it should be, less resistance when turning the nut and the bushing isnt bulging like it is on the passenger side. I also noticed that theres nearly double the amount of exposed threads on top. I stopped messing with it after I noticed this, but the noise still stopped, I assume just because I managed to work some more grease down in wherever the noise is coming from. Am I pulling the shock apart or something? Pics included of both sides for comparison.

 

You might have destroyed the bushing that sits at the bottom. I have the part number at home. It’s like 14$ or something along that line.

 

The big one between the coil spring and the shock mount itself? If so, that on is pretty messed up looking. Just didnt think it had much bearing on the area the noise was coming from.

 

The shock bushing is likely shot. When they are installed, they should not be super tight and be smashing the bushing. I would look into replacing upper and lower bushings or depending on how old they are, look into replacing the entire units. For the amount of work you will need to do to replace those, its not out of the question to replace the whole thing now while its apart.

 

I’m probably going to end up replacing the entire mount assembly and bushings on the side making noise, but Im trying to figure out if the shock is toast now since it seems like its stretching out or something, and its less than a year old.

Also, on the passenger side the bushing is squished and not making noise, but the drivers side is much looser and it squeaks and rattles. Was just assuming it was because it was supposed to be tight like the other side is.

 

Lots of possibilities. How many miles are on the shocks? It usually takes a while for those rubber bushings to go bad, so I suspect there is a lot of miles on those shocks and they are near the end of their life.

 

Only about 10-15k. I had them put on after I got the truck about a year ago

 

wow, not very many miles at all. Well I would just replace the bushings then and should be good to go

 

This is a bit confusing, but it sounds like you progressively over tightened the top nut on the shock to the point that the bushing failed.

Creak from the rear suspension is usually the leaf springs being dirty and unlubed in my experience.