Free floating washer on top of strut?

So I recently had a 3 inch bilstein lift installed. I did not install it, a local mechanic that has done countless work for me as well as my family installed it. When driving it now I notice a a "clinky" noise from the front end. I did a quick check today after work and. Noticed there is a washer that is free floating on top of the strut on both sides. Is this bad/normal/fixable? I would like to get rid of the noise. I took a picture to help show what I'm talking about.

 

improper install.

Either the top nut is not tightened down all the way, or the bushing stack has not been properly assembled. take it back.

 

Does the other side look like that?

 

Yes. Both sides

 

tighten the nut down. that shouldn't be loose

 

Just did bilstein 5100's a week ago. I tightened mine down till that rubber bushing baaically filled the area of the washer you speak of. 20-25 ft lbs i think this diagram says

 

Torque wrench going the CORRECT direction!

Jk i remember using wrenches because too little space and lazy

 

Is it just as simple as a crescent wrench on the nut and on the rod? One to hold the rod and one to turn the nut?

 

I wouldn't drive it like it is. The nut is almost backed all the way off. Tighten it up as much as you can. Here is a pic of mine. Yours has almost no threads left holding the nut on.

 

Thanks for that

 

That is how i did mine while it was on the coil compressor. Correct size wrench and go till you cant anymore, or torque wrench if you want to be politically correct.

 

I agree with this.

Kind of the same situation happened to me on my first install
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/is-this-bad.163136/

 

Probably a dumb question, but can I tighten them right in the drive way as it sits or does it have to come all apart and need to be in a strut compressor?

 

you can tighten it just like it sits. one wrench on the top of the stud one on the nut

 

We installed the same shock in my brothers Frontier. They gave us a new thick washer for the top. We assumed you throw out the old one. Nope. You're supposed to install one on the bottom and leave one on the top. Now you have two washers instead of one like on the stock shocks. Hope he didn't throw out the old one. That might he the case.

 

Same problem except for me the Piston collar which holds up the bushing broke. Both sides failed within miles of each other.

 

This is the kyb top plate install which is pretty much almost stock. It has two washers and is what i used and had no problems with anything. But yes one wrench on the top nut and one on the rod, tighten till it fills that top washer kinda like in that other dudes pic and you should be good op.