Extended Shock Options
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: York, Pa
Extended Shock Options
Here's the dilemma over the weekend we lifted the truck in my signature not quite 4"'over the stick ride height. The local 4wd shop can't find any shocks that will work for us. On the front the distance between the 2 holes with the truck sitting on the ground is 23-1/2". We didn't get to the back yet so I'm sure that will be the same issue. What does everybody else run? I'm not looking for state of the art tech just something reasonable.
Thanks
Thanks
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,247
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
I find it hard to believe you local 4x4 shop can't find you some long travel shocks. I have be on the net a looking around, seems to me they are available.
Skyjacker sells some for their 6" lift kit. Or try some aftermarket long travel remote reservoir $$, like desert racers use.
Or you can just lengthen the factory attachment point? Hang in there I am sure someone has done this mod already, and will chime in.
Skyjacker sells some for their 6" lift kit. Or try some aftermarket long travel remote reservoir $$, like desert racers use.
Or you can just lengthen the factory attachment point? Hang in there I am sure someone has done this mod already, and will chime in.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: York, Pa
Well the local shop sells BDS and Rancho. The problem is the extended ones they list are only about an inch longer than the factory ones. That doesnt really help much when we lifted it more than that.
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First time post, I'm in the middle of a frame-up on my 79 F-150 4x4 and although not a highboy, I went thru some calcs to sort out front/rear shocks on the truck (not sure if it had a 4 or 6 lift when I bought it).
On a recommendation from a 4wd buddy that knows more about it than I do, I used factors of 40% for compression and 60% for extension, meaning that I anticipated that the shock would not compress or extend more than those factors for my usage. I use the truck on our property, trailering, etc, no extreme off-road with lots of high angles, etc.
I used Pro-Comp ES3000 shocks with boots, they seemed to work fine for my use, but of course everyone has their picks on shocks. Not interested in debating that, just giving an example of how I picked shocks.
If you look at the Pro-Comp site, they list specs for their shocks. I had a chart somewhere, easier than sifting thru many web pages.
Pro Comp ES3000 Series - Shock Absorbers - Shock Absorbers, Stabilizers & Accessories - Lift Kits, Suspensions and Shocks - by Pro Comp
As an example:
At ride height, the distance between top/bottom mounts on my truck was 24" on one set of the front shocks (have quad shocks on the front).
Looking at the specs, after some trial and error and looking at several shocks to get me generally in the 24" installed height range, there was a ES332010 shock that shows 31.76" extended, 18.25" compressed:
This time around, when the truck is reassembled I will go thru the same process, especially since I'm changing the location of the rear axle shock mounts and also adding 2 more shocks in the back as well. In your case, if you are anticipating more dramatic off-roading you can increase the compression and extension factors.
Hope this helps. Maybe someone has a different and better way, this is what I did and it worked fine for me.
On a recommendation from a 4wd buddy that knows more about it than I do, I used factors of 40% for compression and 60% for extension, meaning that I anticipated that the shock would not compress or extend more than those factors for my usage. I use the truck on our property, trailering, etc, no extreme off-road with lots of high angles, etc.
I used Pro-Comp ES3000 shocks with boots, they seemed to work fine for my use, but of course everyone has their picks on shocks. Not interested in debating that, just giving an example of how I picked shocks.
If you look at the Pro-Comp site, they list specs for their shocks. I had a chart somewhere, easier than sifting thru many web pages.
Pro Comp ES3000 Series - Shock Absorbers - Shock Absorbers, Stabilizers & Accessories - Lift Kits, Suspensions and Shocks - by Pro Comp
As an example:
At ride height, the distance between top/bottom mounts on my truck was 24" on one set of the front shocks (have quad shocks on the front).
Looking at the specs, after some trial and error and looking at several shocks to get me generally in the 24" installed height range, there was a ES332010 shock that shows 31.76" extended, 18.25" compressed:
- this shock has 13.51" of travel.
- 40% of 13.51" = 5.4" for compression travel
- 60% of 13.51" = 8.1" for extension travel
- 24" ride height plus 8.1" = 32" extended
- 24" ride height minus 5.4" = 18.6" compressed.
This time around, when the truck is reassembled I will go thru the same process, especially since I'm changing the location of the rear axle shock mounts and also adding 2 more shocks in the back as well. In your case, if you are anticipating more dramatic off-roading you can increase the compression and extension factors.
Hope this helps. Maybe someone has a different and better way, this is what I did and it worked fine for me.
Last edited by Steel Toy; Feb 22, 2011 at 08:48 AM. Reason: fixed link
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: York, Pa
Thanks for the links. I tried the chart once so far and chose the my vehicle with a 3.5" lift and it came up with a 20" long fully extended shock. With it sitting on the ground I have 23.5" between both mounting points. I'm sure I can find something...It seems Procomp maybe the way to go.
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