About 2 years after my DS rear shock mount was damaged by backing into a cement block it broke off!!! When it broke off it took the brake line with it!!! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Angry.gif I am lucky this happened on flat land outside Amarillo and not in Colorado where I was on my way home from...


I had to drive 150 miles with no brakes (except emergency) to get to a new brake line.


I am trying to contact American Axle to supply me with a new mount I can weld on...if that doesn't work Warrior makes after market pieces I can order from 4 Wheel Parts.





http://www.monkey.net/steve/images_misc/shock1.jpg


http://www.monkey.net/steve/images_misc/shock2.jpg


http://www.monkey.net/steve/images_misc/shock3.jpg

Looks like it's going to take an entire roll of duct tape and some bailing wire to fix that problem.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif

You could always straighten/reshape that one and before welding it back on. Hitting the block likely created/aggravated a stress fracture that fatigued and grew over time due to stress from the shock. The design is not intended to withstand impacts and forces from that direction. Welding it back on should anneal any work hardened fatigue near the repair and being low carbon steel it should be simple to repair. I've built my own shock mounts out of a variety of things, including shortening the stock style hang down "anchors" to keep the shock above the bottom of the tube on off-road trucks. I've also repaired worse damage than that on totals I've rebuilt in years past… But the brake line should probably be routed differently than shown to eliminate a number of vulnerabilities.

As you mentioned about the impact with a block I still have to wonder if increasing dampening rates has an impact on a mount that may or may not have been designed for such loads - much like if someone were to install some coil-over shocks. Combined with the stand-off distance the shock mount bolt has away from the welds, this may have helped the break. Any thoughts?

BadDog,


Thanks. I am a little leary of going back on with the broke mount b/c I am worried about it breaking again due to the steel being weakened from the damage already sustained. The brake line on there was is my temp fix that I put on in a truck stop parking lot...I will put one on that is routed better after I get the shock mount repaired.


My options as I see 'em in the order I am pursuing...


1) Get a new mount from American Axle to weld on to axle


2) Get universal mounts from Warrior (4 Wheel Parts) and put on 2 new mounts


3) Repair broken mount


4) Shop the junk yards for shock mounts


Any thoughts?





Motocopter,


On the rear I had softened the damening...after pulling the shock off I realized it is not working properly...it will go in, but it won't come out...so I am going to order a set for all 4 corners.


SB

I found a Chevy axle at junk yard for $50. I am going to take it to a certified welder and let him cut off the good mount and weld it on my axle. I hope this will resolve my problem.


I am also going to have him to weld a piece of the broken mount on the axle next to shock mount so I can support the brake line and emergency brake cable to it. If this happens again it will hopefully NOT take the brake line with it!!!

Go to the Ford dealer and order a set of rear shock mounts for the Superduty. They are a very good design and are very strong. They can be bolted on with a u bolt or welded on. I have used them on an older 4 wheeling truck and they work great.

I did check with Ford and Dodge, but on the late model trucks it was the same situation as with Chevy...you can't buy just the mount. I didn't have them check older models to see if it was any different.

All Superduty's, '99 and later, have bolt on lower mounts in the rear, unless recently changed. Take a ride to the dealer and look on the lot. This is how I found out about them. I was lot browsing and noticed it.Edited by: Joey D

Silver Bullet! Don't use the Ford brackets. They are notorious for robbing power and you may ruin your chances of out-runnning Chris. Plus, you will never be able to live down the fact you used Furd parts.... http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Dead.gif

Joey,


I didn't look at anything on the lot...just the parts diagram on the computer in their parts department. I have my solution, but I will take a look for future reference. Thanks!

I had this happen to my GMC Sierra Denali. I was hauling a "large" load of steel when the mount gave way. It broke off while going around a sharp curve. The dealership sent it to a muffler shop and had it welded back on. After that little incident, I started shopping for my Duramax.


davis091