Afco 3850 double adjustable. Afco spec's 2-5/8 id springs. I had a new pair of QA1 2-1/2 id springs. They have under 25 passes on them, and the anodizing is rubbed off both sides of the shock body threads. I have a friend who uses QA1, with the exact same shock, with no such issue. I have a theory, just throwing it out there. What do you think? Oh by the way, graveyard shift bites😑.

How can you install a 2 5/8" spring on a 2 1/2" platform? It would be loose. My 2 1/2" rub on my Koni's and they call for 2 1/2"
Doug

Other way around. The afco spec calls for 2-5/8.

i did that shift for 42 1/2 years before i retired. but i'm part vampire. sunlight hurts my eyes, and i can't sleep like ordinary folks.......

You are probably using a spring with a lighter spring rate and have the spring compressed some by winding the spring seat up to maintain correct shock length and ride height. That's not wrong or a bad thing like some would say. It's a tuning choice based on your combination and how you want to set the suspension up. When doing that, we try to use a better quality spring and check them occasionally, changing them out when when needed. If they lose ANY free length, they go into the can. That will help keep them from deflecting and tearing up the shock.

Let me reword it. How did the spring fit on the platform? Either it isnt seated or with the Afco spec spring it would have at minimum .125" slop on the platform.
Doug

Update:
I was using a bearing on the lower spring
mount. The 3 piece bearing, occupied the pilot for the spring, so the spring wasn't located. At least that's my theory 😉. By the way, the bump is really wimpy. A trip out to be valved is in order.

i have the bearing kit you are [were] using for all for of my shocks. so it looks like now, that idea won't work because it takes up the locator flange space for the lower mount. are there any spring mounts out there that will allow the bearing setup to be used and still have adequate flange area to locate the spring properly ?