Just checked all four of my stock trucks, his shocks are upside down. Yes it will make a difference, the valving has to different for upstroke and down stroke. How much? I don't know.
FOR MUD said:24 pages and 238 posts, just for putting in a rear diffAnd it's still not right! I can't wait till the front!!!!It's got steering!!!!!!!!
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EXACTLY...trust me I've worked with shocks for years and unless they are completely different on fullsize rigs then I think this is all BS. Sort of like don't go swimming after eating...mr.smartass said:This shock thing is freaking me out! I've been searching and can't find anything definate! Looking at pics it's about 50/50 clearly this isn't as common knowledge as some may think... I'm calling some body. The directions don't tell you...![]()
Avery4jc said:EDIT: I just saw ForMud's post and it has the first thing that makes sense...so the valving is different for the up stroke vs. the down stroke...that has some logic behind it.
. for years huh?Avery4jc said:EXACTLY...trust me I've worked with shocks for years and unless they are completely different on fullsize rigs then I think this is all BS. Sort of like don't go swimming after eating...
son, i've rebuilt more shocks than you've ever looked at, guaranteed. they're upsidedown. saying that the valving is the same either way they're mounted is like saying that a glass will hold just as much water upsidedown as it will right side up.
yes, but they're deigned to be installed one way. there is air inside that shock (obviously more now that yours have leaked out), and mounting them upside down gets in into the valves, which will cause foaming of the oil, which will in turn cause erratic performance of the shock. since you never fully compress your shocks, they never get to this air pocket when installed correctly. this isnt R/C car technology we're talking about (which im assuming is where your "years" of shock experience is from), we're talking real weight, and a correctly speced shock, installed correctly will make a BIG difference in the handling characteristics of your truck.So some of you are throwing out some fancy terms but honestly there isn't any difference...the piston will go through the same part of the body at the same stroke length regardless of whether it's upside down or right side up.

beater_k20 said:so now you know what your next project is.![]()

beater_k20 said:when your truck was built in the 80s (like his truck obviously was), those stickers are LOOOONG gone by now.

Avery4jc said:So you really think that these were the original shocks? Theres no way the stroke would be long enough with this much lift...
beater_k20 said:no, but they were probably installed back in the 80s with the lift.
your truck SCREAMS 80s... axle truss/skid... 8" of lift... shock boots... 38" tires on 1/2 tons with stock gears...
obijuan said:that is a job for a forked wedge tool. also known as a balljoint seperator tool.
something like this...
http://www.toolrage.com/ProdImages/ATD-8700.jpg

Oh...no no no...I wasn't arguing or disrespecing what he said...I was just saying that if the only way to get it off was to go buy a little wedged fork to slide in there I'll just go beat on it...86454K30 said:I don't mean any disrespect but.....why do people make posts ask questions then don't listen????????????????????? Or argue with peoples replies????

koldsimer said:I foresee a new TRE in Avery's future.....
Avery4jc said:no comprendo