I popped the wheels off to do the tie rods and noticed the bottom shock mount bushings on my new Koni STRTs are heavily deformed. When I installed it, I torqued the bottom shock nuts while using a jack under the lower control arm to simulate load (maintaining access to the shock with the car on stands). Installed these a few months ago. My Firebird is just a daily driver on crappy LA roads - no aggressive driving or autocross. No symptoms, ride is still nice as the day I first installed them.

Given the issue is on BOTH sides did I mess up the install somehow?
And, do you think I can continue riding on these just fine or do I need to get new shocks in ASAP?
Submitted a warranty request this morning


Front Passenger Side (front of shock mount)

Front Passenger Side (rear of shock mount)

Front Driver Side (front of shock mount)

Front Driver Side (rear of shock mount)

 

i don't know. It looks like every shock, where the manufacturer just installed the rubber bushing and gave her the old, earl scheib, 20 footer paint job. The layer of enamel is cracking and peeling away from the rubber now. Is shock bushing clunking around, can you see wear on the actual bushing?

 

These Konis have a painted metal cap on each end of the bushing, which is what’s deformed. No symptoms whatsoever, rides like a dream, honestly I wouldn’t have thought to check if I wasn’t doing tie rods today. The stock Carbons I replaced didn’t have this issue hence the worry.

 

looks like my koni's. I wouldn't worry about it

 

Sweet, I appreciate the gut check Lee. I’ll leave them as-is

 

Normal, the bushing has to move and flex and that will crack the paint.