thoughts on raising shock mounts
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: GANS
thoughts on raising shock mounts
When I am doing my shackle flip, I was thinking about the shocks.
Being cheap and thinking about ground clearance, I figured it'd be fairly easy to just reweld some brackets on the top of the axle toobes.
that would save a $100 some dollars in shocks and gain some ground clearance...
I know Pro has done this, but has any one else?
Being cheap and thinking about ground clearance, I figured it'd be fairly easy to just reweld some brackets on the top of the axle toobes.
that would save a $100 some dollars in shocks and gain some ground clearance...
I know Pro has done this, but has any one else?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Spokane, WA
If you cut carefully you can use the same shock brackets you cut from the bottom of the axle and reweld them to the top. I welded mine to the ears on my stock blocks for the time being. When I build my traction bars I'll move them to the top of the axle.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
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From: Spokane, WA
There's nothing wrong with welding to cast. It won't make for the strongest weld ever but it will hold just fine in an application like this. The bead just holds the bracket in place. FWIW you can get a very good weld to cast using a buzz box and a nickle rod (I think it's nickle anyway) but for this the old wire feed does fine.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Oregon
Yea, its a nickle rod. But in any case, if I can trust my memory all the ones I've cut into were mild steel anyways. While I was waiting to change over my rear mounts I just tack welded a bolt onto the ear and slid the shock onto that. Ended up running like that for over a year because I'm lazy. Never broke though. Hey Ivan, those mudflaps look they work great with your 44's 
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
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From: Spokane, WA
I think a lot of people have the misconception that shocks basically "carry" all the weight of the rig. That's what the springs are for. All the shocks do is dampen movement so you don't bounce down the road. There's not a whole lot of stress on them unless you have a huge amount of suspension travel. Then again, my advice would be don't try tack welding mounts to your frame when you're drinking or they will fall off while you're on the road. Don't ask me how I know this.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
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From: Oregon
Bwahaha, I'd forgotten about that already. Good point you mention about the lack of actual stress the shock mount sees. Me running mine tack welded with a bolt to the ear for a year while pounding on it is a testament to that.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: GANS
well, being that it is barely 3/16" steel that ford uses on the axle, it can't be too stressful.
wow- ivan, those mounts on your truck are serious booty fab..
are those block stamped steel? they don't seem like they are cast.. mine are hollow in the middle..
wow- ivan, those mounts on your truck are serious booty fab..
are those block stamped steel? they don't seem like they are cast.. mine are hollow in the middle..
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,404
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From: Cleveland, WI USA
Yeah, I turned mine up too. I reused the original ones and it only took about 10 minutes to grind the welds off. Used a flux-core wire feed welder to weld them back on to the axle housing. There in basically the same place only turned up for more clearance.
Since I was too cheap to buy shorter shocks, I relocated the original upper shock mounts, too.
I've pounded the snot out of it several times and it's still holding.
Kevin K.
Since I was too cheap to buy shorter shocks, I relocated the original upper shock mounts, too.
I've pounded the snot out of it several times and it's still holding.
Kevin K.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
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From: Spokane, WA
If you get time go to www.pirate4x4.com and do some reasearch in the general forum on welding to cast. You'd be amazed at how strong even a booty fab weld to cast is.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: GANS
Originally Posted by ivanribic
If you get time go to www.pirate4x4.com and do some reasearch in the general forum on welding to cast. You'd be amazed at how strong even a booty fab weld to cast is.