Shock Geometry

[joshthemule]

I got my shocks from 4wheel parts and I think they are too long. When the truck is at rest, there is only 4 inches of piston rod showing (wheel can only move up 4 inches. Seems like I should have more travel (6 inch lift) how can I determine the correct shock size for my vehicle?

 

[4X4HIGH]

You need to figure out what the center to center distance of the shock mounts are with the suspension collapsed and extended then make sure the shock is somewhere close to the center of those dimensions when installed.

 

[trikstark5]

I had some similiar when I ordered my shocks from 4wheel parts. When I called and talked to them, it ended up being I had the shocks mounted backwards. (rear shocks on the front and the front shocks on the rear) I would call them and double check the part numbers to confirm they sent you the correct ones and to identify which are the front and which are the rear.

 

[joshthemule]

The ones in the rear are bigger than the ones in front so if I switched them out, I'd have even less upward travel. Maybe mine is right and 4 inches up is enough. That would come out to about 8 inches total travel.

Also, shouldn't I be able to measure the mounting points at a rest and then determine the loges travel shock for that midpoint?

 

[bigblock72]

Your shocks probably only have 9 inches of travel total so the length is probably pretty close.

Make sure you move your bumpstops so they hit before your shocks bottom out.

 

[joshthemule]

Do I move them or buy new ones?