I'm in the middle of installing new rear shocks on my cuda. There is a gap between each side of the shock and the shock crossmember. Should there be a spacer to take up any slop or is this ok? The shocks on came with these two inserts, I'm assuming they go on the upper shock bolt? There is still space even with these installed.

These look like the same spacers on the bottom of the shocks..

how much space is there ?
common washers could be used if needed.
a tip to install all these washers without them falling out. tie them to the shock with common sewing thread. two opposite pieces of thread will hold the assembly together while you install the retaining bolt.

I tack glued bibb washers from a garden hose onto those spacers to take up the gap on mine.

About 3/8" to 1/2" on each side even with the spacers installed on the top bolts

I'm hoping you mean the R and L shock when you say each side Either way the gap needs to be filled. I'd be tempted to send them back myself

This....

The relatively thin sheetmetal the upper shock mount is made of requires spacers so it won't collapse when the upper bolt is tightened. I use a small stack of the correct size Grade 8 washers on both sides of the shock to avoid deforming the shock cross member. I use tape to hold them in place while I install the bolt.

Those aren't factory , back then the shock washers looked like the ones in this link

https://www.amazon.com/Monroe-P0113...tKUs4IDTX-J6EEBmyeNLdxQWfmxoCFeIQAvD_BwE

If you need more than what is in this picture then the bushings on the shocks are narrower than original and you'll need to take up the space, I'd use grade 8 washers as noted in the post above me.

Nope, that's on each side of the shock. The shocks are qa1 double adjustables. I called qa1 and they said the same as above, just add washers to take up the space.

Literally going through your exact experience now. Crawled under my car Saturday to put my QA1s on and was like "wait, what's going on here". Had to rig it with a bunch of washers but not much choice. Those spacers they provide don't do much.

I would tell them to put their shocks where the sun don't shine. Accepting this type of BS condones it and will encourage more slacking on their part as well as others. Doesn't take a lot of effort to program a CNC lathe to spit the correct size spacers out for the application PURE 💩🤬👎 IMO. I'm sure they are cheap as well NOT!!!!!

^agreed. QA1 is supposed to translate to "Quality Assurance #1" ironically

Agreed x2. I’m looking at bilsteins right now and they have same exact complaint about rear upper spacer being waaaaayyyy to short. What a bunch of [censored].

Well I bought these shocks about 2 years ago so there's no returning them at this point, I'll just have to use the spacers and washer method. It's very fitting though, considering 99% of the companies dealt with restoring my car from the engine and paint down to the smallest piece of hardware has been nothing but a problem or I've been downright screwed by them. If it's just some spacers, I'll have to deal with it like everything else.

The original shocks upper steel sleeve extended, protruded, beyond the upper shock eye to help center the shocks in the shock crossmembers
It sounds like your after market shocks aren't made for Mopar specific installations
I would definitely take the time to put some spacers in between the shocks and crossmember so the upper shock bodies can't, won't, move around under rapid acceleration and stopping

Welcome to the NEW way of doing things. We no longer count as being worthwhile as the companies are chasing the new era muscle cars.
Wouldn't be a bit surprised if they were coming out of the same factory A little googling showed some on other forums coming from ???? Nah, Can't be 😲
As I Previously stated,

Quote

Accepting this type of BS condones it and will encourage more slacking on their part as well as others. Doesn't take a lot of effort to program a CNC lathe to spit the correct size spacers out for the application PURE 💩🤬👎 IMO.