It's only supposed to be 20 foot pounds. do you think the bushings are too compressed and could this cause a thud/clunk??

2013 JKU Sport S with Bilstein 4600's

 

Tough to tell on the top stud but a litter tighter is better that looser. A few threads should show above the nut. Also check the lower bolt for correct torque.

 

lower bolts are torqued properly. Would over tight cause thuds/clunks?

grasping at straws trying to figure this noise out. thanks.

 

I just got done wheeling today and heard a clunking on the front passenger side. I looked at linkages and shocks but didnt notice anything loose or bent. Please post if you figure it out.

 

After viewing your image I don't see any extreme budging of the shock bushings.. But I can't say that the clunking sound you're experiencing is shock related.. Has anything else been done to the jeep upon installing the shocks?.. perhaps the coils have shifted slightly from their original position. Are these shocks for a 0''-2'' or non lifted jeep.. or is there any sort of compression going on with the susperion because of these shocks or other components installed.

 

Back story....

This clunking noise started when I installed a leveling kit (coils) and take off rubicon shocks. I'm the guy who toghtened down the shocks as hard as he could (Bilstein recommends only 20 foot pounds). this clunking noise has been around since the lift kit install. I removed the lift kit and then the shocks in search of a fix.

my train of thought is that I toghtened down the first set too much and the shop tightened these down too much (20 foot pounds I don't think would compress tr bushing so much) and somehow in doing so it's not allowing the shock to move properly in the bushing which is causing the thud.

I'm not a mechanic, I'm not a shade tree mechanic, but I did stay at a holiday inn express last night.

Also, everything else seems perfectly fine suspension wise.

 

watch at 13:00 minute mark... there's a lot of movement at the top mounting point. If my bushings are too compressed would it be able to move like this? I know I know leaf sprigs vs coils front vs rear... just an idea.

http://youtu.be/31fHq_FyS-8

 

I see what you're saying and yea a lot of side to side movement in the top mount point.. I think this type of setup could result in a shock failure over time.. I doubt these shocks were designed to move in this manor (side to side) within the top mounting point.
My thought here is perhaps you have the incorrect shocks for your application.. maybe too much compression or not enough.. an image of your full set up with the wheel/tire removed might offer insight of clues was to what is going on.

 

That picture you posted the top bushing definitely looks over compressed. When I put my Rancho shocks on the instructions gave a torque setting but I didn't have anything to fit in there. They also said once you see it start to compress it's done. I don't have my Jeep otherwise I'd grab a picture for you.

How long have them bushings been on? Maybe time to consider new ones or at least slacken off the nut and see how it decompresses.

Also is this noise with sway bars connected or disconnected? I get a clunk on obstacles when disconnected but it goes away once back on flat level surface.

 

Thanks for agreeing lol I'm trying to source new bushings I at least need to get better tools to get at the nuts and the top of the stud...

it's a sport S so sway bar end links are stock...

however I did have jks QD's which I took off while trying to find the clunk.. so I don't believe them to be the issue.