Here's an update. I took it apart, checked everything. Looks ok, bottom spring perch is perfectly aligned, top is within an 1/8 inch. Called Vorshlag, they seem convinced that their bolts are "low profile, special order" bolts and that my "replacement" bolt for the broken one is the most likely culprit of the noises i'm hearing.
Guess what, they sell a replacement ring with 3 of the correct bolts:
http://www.vorshlag.com/product_info...roducts_id=209
On order, hopefully will be here next week.
Apparently that ring of bolts will be an easy swap out with just lowering the shock down and removing the old one, no spring compression required.
Hope springs eternal.