Leveling Nightmare!

[Black08Ram]

So I made the mistake of trusting a friend to install a 2 1/2" leveling kit.....job got done and driving home Inoticed some awful popping in the front end. I new it wasnt alignment issues (Ill be getting that done soon) So I asked him and he told me he had some issues getting the lower strut tower bolt out and the lower control arm bolts also. So he decided to beat them out. He had taken pictues of the strut tower brace to show me (its mangled) Also told me he didnt use spring compressors to get everything back in instead used a floor jack to force everything. Ill include pics.

My questions for you guys
1. Is the strut safe being in there with the way its mangled?

2. He said the lower strut tower bushing pushed out when he was forcing out the bolt but he pressed it back in.....is that safe?

3. Will forcing everything back in without a spring compressor scew more up (like the tie-rods, axle, bushings, etc.)

Any answers would help!

 

[White Beauty]

Im not a mechanic but that doesnt sound safe to me.. someone will chime in.

 

[BigSloth]

The strut pictured above is mangles beyond safety, IMO. I havent dealt with a 4x4 in a while, but from the pictures it looks like one side is wallowed out, and that is unsafe.

I dont understand what you mean about the floor jack, I dont think its possible to remove and reinstall the strut mount or the new spacer without a spring compressor. As for getting the strut back onto the truck, there should be no need to force anything.

Tie rods and axles and control arm bushings should have nothing to do with the strut, and should not have suffered any damage even in the hackjob pictured above.

I think your friend owes you new struts.

 

[Sharp Charge]

Ugh.... punch him in the **** and make him buy you new struts. Then take it somewhere else if you don't want to do it yourself. If he didn't use a spring compressor, I'm guessing the upper mount isn't seated properly which could be why it was harder to get back together also.

When I did mine, I didn't need a floor jack to put anything back together. I needed a pry bar to move the lower control arm down some, but once the strut popped into place, everything went back together fine.

 

[bloombloom88]

That strut is no bueno, I'd have him replace it and until then, reduce your driving as much as possible to be on the safe side

 

[NWRQC]

Your buddy owes you some new shocks, that hack job is crap..lol..
I can't believe he tried to pass that off as "ok"..

 

[NWRQC]

I'm not a welder, but the above comments sum it up...

 

[Sparkyy]

Yeah, my 2007 went to a mechanic for the front struts, I couldn't remove the bolts for the life of me. Took some serious air pressure and heat to remove the struts and that one looks trashed.

I agree with the above posts, especially punching him in the **** for saying you were all set.