Shock absorber length after lowering
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Shock absorber length after lowering
Well, I finally got the old springs off the back of my '50 Ford F1 and replaced them with a set of mono leaf springs. Lowered the truck a good 2-3 inches as advertised.
Now I have a question. Is there a rule of thumb on determining the length of the new shock absorbers I need to install? The old ones were worn out but were 12 inches long eye to eye and they have to be extended about 2 inches to re-install on the lowered truck.
With the truck sitting on a level garage floor with the new springs installed, the distance between center of lower mounting point (eye) to the center of the upper mounting point (eye) is 14 inches.
How do I determine what length shock I now need?
All help appreciated.
From the fifties
Now I have a question. Is there a rule of thumb on determining the length of the new shock absorbers I need to install? The old ones were worn out but were 12 inches long eye to eye and they have to be extended about 2 inches to re-install on the lowered truck.
With the truck sitting on a level garage floor with the new springs installed, the distance between center of lower mounting point (eye) to the center of the upper mounting point (eye) is 14 inches.
How do I determine what length shock I now need?
All help appreciated.
From the fifties
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
You need shocks with at least 4" of travel in each direction from their at rest length. So using your at rest measurement you want a shock that is 10" or shorter compressed and 18" or longer extended. Don't compromise on the compressed length, bottoming out will destroy a shock nearly instantly. Make sure to use bump stops that are long enough to contact the axle before the shocks bottom out. Don't plan on doing any stop light drag racing with the monoleafs, they are notorious for inducing wheel hop due to wrap up.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,696
Likes: 1
From: S.W. Florida
As I understand it, you need 14" shocks. The general rule of thumb for shock measurement is placing the vehicle on level ground, removing the shocks, and measuring the distance tween the mounting points, in your case 14".
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Truthfully it's been some time since I've had much dealings with mass produced shocks, so I'm not 100% sure how they are specified. On our racing shocks we specify the at rest , compressed and extended length. If you do buy a 14" (at rest) shock, it would be easy enough to measure the compressed and extended length right in the store before taking it home.
We also use progressive rate bump stops right on the shock shaft that prevents bottoming and acts as a tunable suspension member.
We also use progressive rate bump stops right on the shock shaft that prevents bottoming and acts as a tunable suspension member.
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