My mechanic is installing a 6” Fabtech lift on my 2003 F150 4WD. He was installing the passenger side front shock and broke off a tab on the lower mounting point for the shock. He said the bushing on the shock seems to narrow and caused the tabs to bend in when he was torquing it down and caused a tab to break. Is the lower mounting point for the shock in a stock location or is it on a new piece provided in the kit? Has anyone heard of a problem like this before? Could it be the wrong shock? Please let me know what you think, this is turning into a real disaster. I can’t easily go see for myself because his shop is closed before I can get there from work. All communication has been by phone, which is so annoying.

Please help!

 

Guys please advise. I'm so frustrated, I'm ready to have it towed home.

 

Im not sure, but i think that the tab stays in the stock location. Tell him to be careful with the other side, and just have them weld the tab back on. Its already in the shop, why go through all the trouble to have it towed back to your house, just have them finish it up asap.

 

I just read a post about installing bushings and sleeves on the shocks before installing. I wonder if I was supplied the wrong ones?

Thanks for your reply Milkthegoat.

 

maybe, but still, they wouldnt have fit in the bracket then. unless you were to pound them in there.

 

Can someone confirm the lower mounting tabs for the front shocks are on the lower control arms, which aren't provided in the Fabtech kit, but are stock??

 

I don't know about the 03's, but when I installed my 6'' Lift I did use the stock ones. The Fabtech 6'' is a pretty straight forward install. If the guy is a mechanic, it should a 6 hour job max with no problems. Tell him to read the damn instructions that come with the kit. I am no mechanic, and I did an 8 hour install on my 6'' ProComp just by following the instructions. Like they already said, just weld it back on and finish it up, because that is where it should be.

 

How about calling Fabtech for tech support?

 

I called Fabtech support and was told to use loctite and only torque to half of what the spec says. The Fabtech guy thinks the cast tabs on the lower control arm are a poor design. My mechanic doesn't like that idea and is considering fabbing up something and attaching it to the lower control arm and just cutting off the two cast tabs. I like my mechanics idea better than Fabtechs.

 

How did it work out?

 

you brought you truck to a mechanic and HE broke your truck. i thought their jobs were to fix things? i hope he is not charging you a lot for install. HE broke it HE fixes it.

 

Not sure about the 03's either, but my fabtech coilovers slid into place. I had to put the bottom in first and attach it to the a arm...then attach the top. The directions say to go the other way. I found my way was much easier. Did the mechanic put the metal insert into the bushings?