six shocks
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
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From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
six shocks
My 86 F150 4x4 has six shock absorbers. A guy at a tire shop told me that you can run just fine with four, leaving off two of the fronts. So I have a couple of questions:
It this true?
If it's true, which two do you leave off? Is there a down side to this idea?
It does seem obvious that you would have to use a much heavier shock if you left off two. Anyone out there have any experience on this question?
Thanks
It this true?
If it's true, which two do you leave off? Is there a down side to this idea?
It does seem obvious that you would have to use a much heavier shock if you left off two. Anyone out there have any experience on this question?
Thanks
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,014
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From: Virginia
Your truck has 4 up front because you have the factory towing package. You may also have a sway bar in the back.
If you want to leave two of them off, go ahead. The regular trucks only used two, but I can't remember if they are on the front or the rear of the bracket.
If you want to leave two of them off, go ahead. The regular trucks only used two, but I can't remember if they are on the front or the rear of the bracket.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2004
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When I lifted my 85 F-150, the kit only came with four shocks. I was worried about it at first too, but then I thought about it some more, and figured that the shocks aren't what actually hold up the truck, they pretty much just absorb shocks ... hence the name. I called the guys at the shop who i bought the lift from, and they didn't know these trucks had 4 up front! I only ran 2 up front( the ones towards the back of the truck; since the ones toward the front have a lower bracket so they need to be longer) until the other extra longer ones came in . And I pretty much only got them to keep the look.
Are you replacing the shocks anyways, or are you just getting rid of them for weight or whatever?
Are you replacing the shocks anyways, or are you just getting rid of them for weight or whatever?
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,711
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From: Pittsburgh
The trucks with 2 front shocks use a slightly stiffer shock than those that came with factory quad shocks. you can run two no problem, just get a set for a 2 shock truck and mount them to the rear.
Justin
Justin
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Kuna ID
I think I read somewhere, the quad shocks were part of the handling package, one set of shocks was supposed to help with smaller bumps in the road while the other set handled the bigger stuff. You can definitely run with just 2, but I think it looks better with 4. You should probably keep the back set, as that is where the trucks with only 2 shocks have them.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
Likes: 18
From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
front shocks
OK, thanks for all the input on the shocks.
It sounds like nobody knows of any real negative effect in leaving off the front set of shocks, with the dual front shock trucks. Right?
It sounds like nobody knows of any real negative effect in leaving off the front set of shocks, with the dual front shock trucks. Right?
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 103
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From: Manitoba Canada
the only real negitive effect will be if your running oversized tires. The extra weight of the larger wheels and tires is more than a single shock absorber can handle. (or in the case of a camper package, the extra weight of "slide in camper"). If you plan on running larger than factory wheels and tires, the quad shocks are a real bennifit. if not and you don't plan on sliding in a camper or heavy load, then the single shocks will be more than addequate. Frankly, I'm surprised a speed shop selling a lift kit wouldn't know this... seeing as a lift will usually involve installing larger tires etc. Basically what this boils down to is that the quads can do more work than the duals and do it more effectivly.
