Popping noise after SST 3.5” lift

[SB09]

I had an SST kit installed about a month ago and now I’m getting an intermittent popping. Seems to happen mainly when the truck hasn’t been drivin for awhile then goes away after about 5-10 miles. Anyone ever experience this? I also notice my front passenger side shock is now leaking. Any chance the shock itself would pop? The pop can be felt in the floorboard and seems to happen when going over small bumps on rebound. I know the spring has to be compressed to insert the lower puck. Any chance the shop could’ve damaged the shock when installing that?


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[SB09]

Also, I don’t notice any difference in driving feel and the popping sounds like to me it’s coming from the drivers side, not the leaking passenger side.


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[SB09]

So, took it to Ram. Come to find out the shop that installed the SST Kit decided they'd use a set of pliers to hold onto the shock shaft to loosen/tighten the top nut to insert the spacers. If they'd have used a pass-through socket like they're supposed to none of this would've happened.

Anyone have any ideas what recourse a customer has against shops when they don't install things right? They're pointing finger at Ram as a faulty part, Rams pointing finger at lift installer for not using proper tools. I side with Ram that it's not a manufacturer issue, but an installation issue.

 

[Joeyp]

So, took it to Ram. Come to find out the shop that installed the SST Kit decided they'd use a set of pliers to hold onto the shock shaft to loosen/tighten the top nut to insert the spacers. If they'd have used a pass-through socket like they're supposed to none of this would've happened.

Anyone have any ideas what recourse a customer has against shops when they don't install things right? They're pointing finger at Ram as a faulty part, Rams pointing finger at lift installer for not using proper tools. I side with Ram that it's not a manufacturer issue, but an installation issue.

That sucks- use a reputable shop.

 

[Jeffjad]

So, took it to Ram. Come to find out the shop that installed the SST Kit decided they'd use a set of pliers to hold onto the shock shaft to loosen/tighten the top nut to insert the spacers. If they'd have used a pass-through socket like they're supposed to none of this would've happened.

Anyone have any ideas what recourse a customer has against shops when they don't install things right? They're pointing finger at Ram as a faulty part, Rams pointing finger at lift installer for not using proper tools. I side with Ram that it's not a manufacturer issue, but an installation issue.

Man that's ****ty they did that. Any shop that is reputable and cares about reviews should take ownership of that and make it right for you. The fact that they didn't use a pass-through socket to properly torque the top hat nut tells me that is probably the culprit of your popping sound as well. Top hat nut is probably loose.....

 

[SB09]

Man that's ****ty they did that. Any shop that is reputable and cares about reviews should take ownership of that and make it right for you. The fact that they didn't use a pass-through socket to properly torque the top hat nut tells me that is probably the culprit of your popping sound as well. Top hat nut is probably loose.....

Exactly what I was thinking and what I gathered from the Ram Tech that had to look at that amateur hour work the lift place did. This is exactly why I do things on my own.


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[SB09]

Well, looks like I'll be doing a lot of social media posting today on the lift installer. Reported Ram's findings back to them and they told me basically not their problem and they'd be happy to go over how they installed the lift. I'm not concerned with how they installed the lift, I'm concerned with having shocks that keep the fluid inside them and not on the outside leaking.

So, looks like I'm on the hook for $1,200 in damages even though I took my truck to "reputable" shop. I guess tool marks on the shock shaft and leaking just magically showed up somehow.

 

[Jeffjad]

Well, looks like I'll be doing a lot of social media posting today on the lift installer. Reported Ram's findings back to them and they told me basically not their problem and they'd be happy to go over how they installed the lift. I'm not concerned with how they installed the lift, I'm concerned with having shocks that keep the fluid inside them and not on the outside leaking.

So, looks like I'm on the hook for $1,200 in damages even though I took my truck to "reputable" shop. I guess tool marks on the shock shaft and leaking just magically showed up somehow.

Man that's a bummer they didn't fess up. Live and learn I guess. Were you able to figure out what the popping noise was? Be sure to post the name of shop on here as well so nobody else in the area uses them.

 

[SB09]

Man that's a bummer they didn't fess up. Live and learn I guess. Were you able to figure out what the popping noise was? Be sure to post the name of shop on here as well so nobody else in the area uses them.

I'm going to go see them in person one more time and basically tell them to fix the issue or I'll make sure anyone who will listen is aware of them nor standing behind their product.

I wouldn't be surprised if it's exactly what you mentioned above about the top hat nut being loose. I go back to pick the truck up today and hopefully the service advisor and tech can explain what they found more in-depth. I will ask specifically if they checked that nut for tightness.

Worst part is, I thought I was using a good shop. Plenty of reviews. Plenty of pictures of previous trucks that they've lifted. Nothing bad about them at all I could find. Maybe they'll fix it when pressured in person. We will see.

 

[Jeffjad]

I'm going to go see them in person one more time and basically tell them to fix the issue or I'll make sure anyone who will listen is aware of them nor standing behind their product.

I wouldn't be surprised if it's exactly what you mentioned above about the top hat nut being loose. I go back to pick the truck up today and hopefully the service advisor and tech can explain what they found more in-depth. I will ask specifically if they checked that nut for tightness.

Worst part is, I thought I was using a good shop. Plenty of reviews. Plenty of pictures of previous trucks that they've lifted. Nothing bad about them at all I could find. Maybe they'll fix it when pressured in person. We will see.

Good luck, I hope it all works out for you.

 

[SB09]

Well, turn of events.

Typical behavior from the Stealership. When I went to pickup the truck just now I asked to get an overview of the damage to the shock. Turns out the information I was given was wrong. They denied the warranty claim because the nut on the top hat was “worn” which I never could see. Then there was a “tool” mark on the bottom of the shock where the lift installer had to twist the bottom of the shock to line it up with the lower control arm(something that always has to be done). There isn’t any actual damage to the shock anywhere. Just a normal cop-out answer to deny a warranty claim. Absolutely ridiculous behavior on their part, but I’m not surprised.

Good news is the lift installer is stepping up and fixing it for me. I saw it as a perfect opportunity to drop some Bilstein 5100s in there so I bought the shocks, lift installer is putting them in for free.

Once again, another story of refusal to support the customer. I don’t see anything on this shock that the lift installer did wrong.


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[Jeffjad]

Well, turn of events.

Typical behavior from the Stealership. When I went to pickup the truck just now I asked to get an overview of the damage to the shock. Turns out the information I was given was wrong. They denied the warranty claim because the nut on the top hat was “worn” which I never could see. Then there was a “tool” mark on the bottom of the shock where the lift installer had to twist the bottom of the shock to line it up with the lower control arm(something that always has to be done). There isn’t any actual damage to the shock anywhere. Just a normal cop-out answer to deny a warranty claim. Absolutely ridiculous behavior on their part, but I’m not surprised.

Good news is the lift installer is stepping up and fixing it for me. I saw it as a perfect opportunity to drop some Bilstein 5100s in there so I bought the shocks, lift installer is putting them in for free.

Once again, another story of refusal to support the customer. I don’t see anything on this shock that the lift installer did wrong.


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Yep, sounds like the dealership was going to find something regardless so they could deny the warranty claim . Glad that the lift installer is helping you out now. You will love the bilstein shocks, I had them on my 4th gen and enjoyed them over stock ride.