Am I supposed to use the spacer? Will it hurt anything either way?

 

You do need to use or re-use the factory supplied plastic spacers, same orientation as installed using the factory parts. I've talked to Energy Suspension about their included printed installation instructions but they never responded---that was maybe 5 years ago.

Without the spacer the urethane bushings will pull through the frame bracket---it's happened to me.

 

Thanks, what is the difference between the oem and aftermarket bushing?

 

For the most part the material from which they're made.

 

I believe OEM is rubber.
Energy is polyurethane.

 

My mistake, I meant to ask what the difference is between the stock spacer and the aftermarket spacer? I ordered some oem spacers, just waiting for them to arrive. I do have a set of aftermarket black spacers from a previous job, I was just wondering if I could have just used those instead of the oem spacers.

 

When I decided to re-install the OEM plastic spacers one of mine was broken so just ordered two new parts directly from Ford. I don't think who manufactured the spacers matters as much as having them in place whether using Energy Suspension or OEM bushings.

FWIW here's what happens over time without the OEM spacer and urethane bushings:



Here's the stock parts installed as designed:

 

Uh Oh...

I recently installed these and followed Energy Suspension directions, removed the factory spacer. That is going to be a bear to put them back in...
I chose not to drop the brackets mostly due to the exhaust being in the way.

 

That looks terrible without the spacer, looks to be damaging it.

 

I jacked mine really high, dropping the beams down, used ratchet straps, not the safest way to do them.

 

I got all the parts. The stock oem spacers are a tiny bit thicker and stiffer than the black after market spacer.