Fitting Terra Firma front Shock

Hi everyone, regular reader but first time poster,

I'm currently fitting a terra firma 2" lift kit to my defender td5 and I'm have a slight issue.

i can't seem to be able to get enough thread showing on the bottom on the front shocks to screw the bottom nut on, once iv put the bush and metal washers on it covers up all of the thread,

iv tried various things to try and figure it out but it doesn't seem to work,

any advice would be helpful

charlie

Take a picture showing how the shock and bushes are sitting.

Are there little metal cups spot welded to the axle bracket?

You need to chisel them off.

nesponge said:

Are there little metal cups spot welded to the axle bracket?

You need to chisel them off.

Click to expand...

Not on the front ...

I had this issue fitting my Terrafirma front shocks. The washers supplied are very thick. But mine also came with some thinner washers and l used these instead.

Are they new bushes being fitted that were supplied with the shock? I have had this problem with the pro-comp bushes when I changes the shocks on mine. bought standard land rover bushes and it improved things. I then also carefully used a set of chain clamps to pull it down far enough to get the nut started. Once a thread on there is not problem and you can tighten down accordingly.

Hi everyone, thanks for the replies,
I have attached a few pics of the shock and amount of thread showing, please excuse the dirt it will all be cleaned off when it's ready,

Unfortunately mine only can with one set of washers, although the terra firma ones are probably twice as thick as the oem ones I had on

Would it be possible for me to use different thinner bushes or washers as I was trying again tonight and I'm still around 1-2mm away from being able to catch the thread with the nut

Put some washers on the thread [no bush ] and do up the nut to squash the top bush.Leave it for a bit and then try again.

What @tottot said ... Pull it down, change the washer for a bush and washer, Job's a good 'un ..

Might be worth also jacking up a little on that side of the axle .. put some preload on the system.

Hey Charlie,

I had the same issue on my D90. This is how you do it:
Install the shock in the tower as they say.
Slide it down through the spring (assuming front, because that’s the most difficult)
Get the washers and bushing on the thread at the bottom and get the nut in there too. now push a cold chisel between the nut and the top of the axle wedging the nut into place. Drive the chisel hard enough that it compresses the bushing
Push the shock and tower assembly toward the front (this evens out the pressure on the shock bushing) Now screw the shock into the nut keeping it as far forward as you can. You can use the shock tower as leverage and screw the whole thing one full turn clockwise. More if you can. Push down hard at the same time.
Now you should be able to pull the chisel out and you have a little purchase on the threads, the nut should be on the threads.
Pull the shock tower down and locate onto the four bolts that retain it. You’ll be compressing the shock as you do and its a bit of struggle to get the tower onto the bolts, but it will go. The inner fender (wing) is pliable so don’t be afraid to be a bit aggressive
Once you have the tower located on the bolts you can install the nuts and get the tower tightened down
Now just go back to the lower nut and tighten it all the way.
boom- you’re done!

andy banni said:

Hey Charlie,

I had the same issue on my D90. This is how you do it:
Install the shock in the tower as they say.
Slide it down through the spring (assuming front, because that’s the most difficult)
Get the washers and bushing on the thread at the bottom and get the nut in there too. now push a cold chisel between the nut and the top of the axle wedging the nut into place. Drive the chisel hard enough that it compresses the bushing
Push the shock and tower assembly toward the front (this evens out the pressure on the shock bushing) Now screw the shock into the nut keeping it as far forward as you can. You can use the shock tower as leverage and screw the whole thing one full turn clockwise. More if you can. Push down hard at the same time.
Now you should be able to pull the chisel out and you have a little purchase on the threads, the nut should be on the threads.
Pull the shock tower down and locate onto the four bolts that retain it. You’ll be compressing the shock as you do and its a bit of struggle to get the tower onto the bolts, but it will go. The inner fender (wing) is pliable so don’t be afraid to be a bit aggressive
Once you have the tower located on the bolts you can install the nuts and get the tower tightened down
Now just go back to the lower nut and tighten it all the way.
boom- you’re done!

Click to expand...

The thread is from 2017, and the OP hasn’t been back on since 2018.

Happens a lot.

The information given will help others at least.