When I bought my truck, the previous owner had 'done a number' on the mounting locations.

There is a custom upper shock mount made from c-channel and flat plate.
And the lower mount has almost a 3" extension up the front of the axle from the stock mount point for the lower bolt.


Now I want to use through bolts top and bottom, and I want to remove any brackets that are hanging down below the axle tube.

I will cut off the existing axle bracket and unbolt the uppers.
I bought these to use as shock mounts.
New Uppers
Dorman 924-407 Upper Shock Mounting Bracket $8.99 each (free shipping to store)

New Lowers

$16.73 + $8.95 shipping

Now on to the questions.
Will I have any problems if I weld the tab onto the front side of the axle?
I believe the original axle shock mount location also dampened axle wrap, will the front/center location make my axle wrap worse?
FWIW, the location I am looking at is almost exactly the same place as the current 'extensions', maybe even a little farther down so long as it doesn't hang beneath the axle tube.

For the uppper mounts, I plan on using the stock location, or as close to it as possible.
Does anybody know if I should move it forward farther for a longer shock or should I move it closer to axle center line.
From what I've read, shocks perform best straight up and down, but I have a popup 5th wheel hitch to install there.

While we are talking about the subject, does anybody have a favorite shock brand or model?

The truck is a 1975/8 F250 Crew Cab ShortBed 4x4.

I still need to lift/level the front.

thanks,
-ron