OK, so this morning I noticed one of my rear shocks had come loose from the axle.

Seems the mount rotted and tore away from the axle.

This turned out to be the easy part. I found replacement weld on shock mounts for $16 ... they are on the way. Local welding shop says he replaces them all the time and even appreciated that I found replacements ... saves him from having to fab one.

Whey taking off the mount, I saw a few dents in the shock ... most likely from banging on axle as I drove.

I just got the truck a short while ago and it has always looked a bit "lifted" to me .... not by much but by a few inches maybe.

Anyway, I pulled of the old shocks and they look big.

They seem to have a diameter of almost 2" ( I think 1" are stock)!

Then I measured the length and travel ..... 15 1/2" compressed .... 25 1/2" extended .... giving me 10" of travel (quick measure with a tape ... I can check again and me more exact if we need).

I had planned on going down and picking up a set of "cheap" shock ..... hmmmmm.

These are longer than stock.

How can I find a part number for shocks that will fit this truck since they are not stock.

I only paid $1000 for the truck ( including new tires and a working snow plow). I don't want to spend $100 or more each for shocks.

"cheap" stock ones are only $21 each at Advanced Auto. I don't mind going say up to $40 or maybe $50.

Any advice would be great!

Thanks ..... Mike

Duuuuuuh .... forgot to say what I had.

It is a 1986 Ford F-150
Standard cab, 8 ft bed
4 x 4
manual transmission
300 (4.9) straight six

I should ask the obvious question also, how can I tell if it is "lifted" or if the guy before me just put heavy shocks that were too long?

 

Maybe you try the local salvage yard.
If so: Measure the installed shock length on the junk truck (and your trucks length from mount to mount, and confirm the mounting styles are the same (both ends use "through bolts") - it doesn't matter what kind of a truck they come from. As long as the shafts don't show signs of oil leakage they are mostly like okay. Be sure to replace them in pairs.

 

One way to tell is look at the blocks under the rear springs. The stock one is about 2 inches tall, and has a "wing" sticking out that bumps against the rubber bumpstop. A lift will usually have another block underneath the original one, a 4 inch lift will have a 4 inch block plus the original winged 2 inch block.

Another method would be higher arched springs to lift the rear, but you won't find this done very often, it's more expensive. You might be able to tell if they are non-stock springs, but I am not sure.

One last method is flipping the rear shackle. Originally the spring should be above the frame bracket in the back. If they flip it for lift, the spring will be below the frame bracket.

 

OK, maybe it is just me.

First, I think what I am seeing is an added leaf spring on top of the stock ones. I see the rubber bumper wing, I see one spring not attached at the ends, then two main springs running to the shackles.

Then there is a 1/2" spacer block and another short leaf on top of that one.

Anyway, assuming I am close to "stock" spring height, I started looking for replacement shocks under the various manufactures.

I made the bad assumption that if it is for my vehicle, they would all be the same size .... wrong!

Shocks listed by various manufactures vary by an inch!

The "cheap" stock ones list at 24 3/4". The same manufacturer lists their premium shocks as having a length of 25 3/4".

The "cheap" shocks have a travel of just over 8" while the premium shocks list at just over 10"

Am I just being way to critical? Will almost anything work on my truck?

I also see why the 2" outside diameter .... the "good" shocks use the outside as a cooling reservoir.

Thank ..... Mike