Front shocks changed but not stiff steering

[justin32]

I changed my front shock absorbers as they were both MOT advisories in the previous 2 MOTs. I got a pair of Monroe shocks and fitted them yesterday.

However I ran into an issue. When I used the specified torque settings for the absorber to top mount bearings it didn't give enough thread to allow the convex washer and top mount cover. The only way was to wind down the top mount bearings with an impact gun to give me the extra inch of thread needed to complete the install.

Now I have steering that is heavier than it was before. I maybe able to back off the nut slightly but not much at all. The absorber's are the correct ones.

What else could be the issue?

[northpole]

Maybe you haven't assembled the lot right... and with aftermarket shocks even though they are the right ones doesn't always mean you can put the caps back on top... it's just a cap to make it look pretty... just like the engine and battery cover.

[troutybrown]

Did you line up old and new side by side to make sure they were correct?

[justin32]

Yes they were both the same

I'm going to have a tinker today and see if I can find out what going on. Maybe I didn't compress the spring enough when I torqued the piston nut up

[justin32]

Maybe you haven't assembled the lot right... and with aftermarket shocks even though they are the right ones doesn't always mean you can put the caps back on top... it's just a cap to make it look pretty... just like the engine and battery cover.

The shocks were identical, they were Monroe ones which were the same as the ones that came off.

The way they are set up is after you have taken the spring off and places it on the new shock you have rubber washer that's sits on the spring and then the top mount bearing and then the piston nut. Once that has been torqued down you put the assembly up into the turret and then a large convex washer followed but and very large metal plate that then sits on top of the turret and then the final nut. I didn't have enough thread to put the last nut on so had to tighten the piston nut to allow for more thread.it seems to be way over the specified torque setting

[northpole]

You probably have broken the plastic bearing

[troutybrown]

Have you got the convex washer upside down?

[Drogen24]

Have nothing to offer but this is making me wonder if I did something wrong when I changed my top mounts that's caused my heavy steering