Post lots of pics of the upper shock mounts installed, I'm curious to see how they work out.
CK5
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PLAN B
This build was 2 parts 1 i have a truck I made to pretty to wheel so I'm building an ugly one I can actually enjoy.
And 2. My cousin has been trying to join us for blazer bash but his truck wont be ready so we are surprising him with this one
@mrk5 yeah right now i am still exploring how others have done it and what the best option is. i am gathering information on why people or companies have it a specific way. I may end up doing it exactly the way diy4x has it or i may turn the lower mount to run parallel with the axle.. right now the only parts i own are the top mounts.
If your lower mount is rotated 90 degrees (bolt parallel with axle) you're going to have binding issues with a standard bushing.
My guess is that the lower shock mount is the way it is because it's located lower than the top of the axle, which makes a perpendicular bolt difficult to do. If you move the mount to the top of the axle, you can do whatever you like, but it makes it so you have to raise the upper shock mount a lot in order to get long shocks in there.
What @skunked said. I was told the shock bushings see more deflection from the up and movement of the axle versus the front to back. I will say I have thought some about giving the shocks a slight forwards lean at the top with the idea the axle will move a lot further down (droop) which will pull the axle forward towards the fixed end of the leaf. But I think that is really splitting hairs. Plus if you run springs like ORD's, Stephen says they will travel 5" up and down so it wouldn't matter.
From what I remember, front factory shock mounts on the axle are actually angled at like a 45.
From what I remember, front factory shock mounts on the axle are actually angled at like a 45.
yeah my current lower mounts (i believe they are stock) are at like a 45. ok well looks more and more like i should do the inner c supports with the shock mount with my new upper mounts.
@ashman have you seen how tall these diy4x mounts are? they move the top of the shock 8.5" above the frame.
https://diy4x.com/product.php?productid=17898&cat=0&featured=Y
https://diy4x.com/product.php?productid=17879&page=1
@ashman have you seen how tall these diy4x mounts are? they move the top of the shock 8.5" above the frame.
https://diy4x.com/product.php?productid=17898&cat=0&featured=Y
https://diy4x.com/product.php?productid=17879&page=1
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Do those inner C supports have a drain hole anywhere on the top shock mount portion?
I have no clue, i imagine it would be easy to add a little drain
I've never had them. It would probably depend on the climate you live in and how much you avoid the mud.
I never go in the mud and my trucks almost never see wet conditions. they sit in the garage most the time.
Anyone that has switched up their front shock mounts.... are there any real pros or cons to mountingthe shocks directly on top of the axle and running the front shock perfectly straight up and down?
Anyone that has switched up their front shock mounts.... are there any real pros or cons to mountingthe shocks directly on top of the axle and running the front shock perfectly straight up and down?
Another question for the ck5 family. How are you mounting your cb antenna? I have a little 3 foot firestik I'd like to permematly mount somewhere but I'm coming up with blanks.
(I lost my magnet mount cb antenna trying to keep up with wade during blazer bash this year)
(I lost my magnet mount cb antenna trying to keep up with wade during blazer bash this year)
The only thing I know you lose is length for the shocks but since you are using a taller upper mount you are compensated
It works fine. I cycled my suspension to find the center of forward to rearward shackle movement and that’s where I have the bushing straight. So It twists an equal amount throughout the spring movement.
I've mounted my shocks like that for years and I've not used a sway bar for the same amount of time. I think the vertical shocks help with body roll, mind you they don't do as well as a sway bar, but well enough for me. Truck doesn't feel unstable. I also use good monotube shocks.
Have you looked inside your rock sliders yet? asking for a friend
Yeah, I have no idea how I didnt notice until i was airing up lol.
I swear I noticed the front end felt "softer" and more sloppy after I did the ford shock towers... maybe its because of the angle I have them at?
They lean pretty far back
I will say the extra travel was amazing and I only want to switch things to get just a hair more up and down travel and make it feel a little more stable...
I cant tell but do you have a gusset on the backside of the ford tower tying into top of the [ frame. That helped mine flex less because it tied the mount into the frame in 2 different directions. I also put 3 bolts in the ford tower for the same reason
Nothing on top and no gussets just the three bolts on the inside. I wanted to try them before welding gussets or anything on.
I can't find the visual for it but the more you lay the shock back the less mechanical advantage it has to do its job. To me it looks like your front shocks are slanted back pretty far.
I would suggest moving the towers forward but I know you just won those new towers at BB. In the mean time could you install the shock into the old dual shock mount that is still on your frame to see what it feels like?
Here's mine: Front end is very stable at any speed.
