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Starting to think about shocks

Mastiff

Mastiff

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My current shocks are shot, plus I just installed 1-ton axles and ORD 4" springs. I may or may not change the springs since they came in a little higher than expected, but I don't think it'll affect my choice here (it would be maybe an inch lower). Since money is a factor, I'm looking at the Tuff Country SX8000.

Here's what I've measured so far. The fronts sit at 22" level and the most articulation I've gotten when it looks really stuffed and stretched is 19" to 24.5". I wouldn't expect a ton more droop, but I bet it could stuff a fair bit more just from bouncing down with the weight of the truck. The 61261 looks like a good fit here with a range of 16-26.5". It's really the only one that spans the range, the only possible issue is if I could actually compress 3 more inches in some cases. Not sure how spring settling should be considered in this.

The rear is tougher. It sits at about 23" when level, and I've only gotten a range of 22-25" when trying to articulate the suspension. I have oversized bumpstops back there but I'd have to get down to about 16" before they would even touch. I'm not sure if the spring would cease downtravel before this happened. 61301 may be the best bet here, going 17-29.5", assuming that I don't really have 7" of uptravel available, but bottoming out on the shock would really suck.

What do you think? I probably have a lot more travel than I've been able to see yet, just not sure which direction. If I can't get a shock to cover the full range of travel, am I better off with longer bumpstops, or limiting straps, or ... ?

EDIT: I did a little more testing and just got my hi-lift on the corner of the rear bumper. I got the rear to droop to about 28" between shock mounts and it wasn't done. 29.5" could cover it, but I'm not sure.
 
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Your springs have potential to use a LOT more shock than that. Fully articulated, they can use all of a 14" travel shock. This is our project Cheap Truck that has the exact same springs as you:





For the front, the stock shock mounts are pretty close together. If you think you might use the travel some day, getting a longer shock in there is a good idea. We usually use the shock mounts on this page.

The rear is good to go as is, the 61301's will bolt right in and will work fine.
 
38377k5 said:
The rear is good to go as is, the 61301's will bolt right in and will work fine.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I need a fork lift or something too...

I'm concerned about the compression part. The 61301 would be about 6" of shock uptravel before bottoming out. Are you sure that's good enough? The 61301 is not the one recommended on your site. I forget the number, but it had a minimum length of 18" and extended to 32" or so IIRC.

Is it typical to drop the rear bump stop on these trucks?
 
Mastiff said:
My concern is in the rear. Looks like with 7" uptravel I could get the shock compressed to 16".
Click to expand...

This is where you have to choose what you want. To use the full travel of the spring, you'll need shock mounts that are further apart.

If you use the stock mounts, you can fit a 12-1/2" travel Tuff Country shock in there that will use almost all of the capability of the spring and it would bolt right in to what you have.
 
38377k5 said:
This is where you have to choose what you want. To use the full travel of the spring, you'll need shock mounts that are further apart.

If you use the stock mounts, you can fit a 12-1/2" travel Tuff Country shock in there that will use almost all of the capability of the spring and it would bolt right in to what you have.
Click to expand...

Well, if I do compress to 16" the 12.5" travel shocks will hit, unless I drop the stops to halt uptravel early.

My mounts are only sort of stock. The axle side has mounts on the 14bff are where the guy I hired decided to weld them on. They are approximately level with the bottom of the tube. In hindsight I would have put them just a bit lower to get comfortably into the 12.5" shock.
 
Back to thinking about this. If my fronts are 22" apart level, any reason I shouldn't be able to fit a 61261? That has a collapsed length of 16", which would allow at least 6" of uptravel

I finally got the truck on the road but it feels pretty wild with the softer springs and no shocks.
 
In the Tuff Country shocks, you'll have to compromise one way or the other.

The 61261 will have 6" of bump travel but only 4.5" of droop.

The 61301 will have 5" of bump travel with 7.5" of droop.

You're really not going to go wrong with either, it's just trading bump travel for droop travel or vice versa. I suggested the 61301's because you can use more travel, I asked Stephen here and he thought the extra inch of bump travel in the 61261 shocks would be worth it.

Neither is perfectly ideal for the full travel of the springs but either one will work just fine.
 
Makes sense, thanks. I don't expect this to be permanent, but I want to be able to drive for a while before I get into messing with the shock mounts.

Springs are still a wildcard too. I'm hoping I can drive and get them to settle just a bit. If not I have a big decision to make...
 
Hey Chris, what size/kind of tires on cheap truck? If you have the same springs on that as I have and are running 37's, that's another thing I might consider. It's hard to tell but it doesn't look like you went too crazy on the sheet metal. Do you have a basic side shot of that rig?

38377k5 said:
Your springs have potential to use a LOT more shock than that. Fully articulated, they can use all of a 14" travel shock. This is our project Cheap Truck that has the exact same springs as you:





For the front, the stock shock mounts are pretty close together. If you think you might use the travel some day, getting a longer shock in there is a good idea. We usually use the shock mounts on this page.

The rear is good to go as is, the 61301's will bolt right in and will work fine.
Click to expand...
 
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Mastiff said:
Hey Chris, what size/kind of tires on cheap truck? If you have the same springs on that as I have and are running 37's, that's another thing I might consider. It's hard to tell but it doesn't look like you went too crazy on the sheet metal. Do you have a basic side shot of that rig?
Click to expand...

That's our project cheap truck, I'll have to get you pictures tomorrow.

We have a couple more that are 3-4" lift with 37's (one of mine included), I'll see what I can do.
 
No pics? :D

Anyway, I think I changed my mind on shocks after bouncing around on my cheap shocks yesterday. I want to try to get into some Bilsteins first thing. If I go with the Ford towers, can I plan on getting into the 14" shocks up front? Looks like I'd need to get about 5" more separation than I have now in order to make that happen.
 
What do you guys typically do for the rears in terms of mounts? Are standard mount locations good enough to not be a major impediment to flex? I'm guessing I can fit an 11" shock back there safely. My mounts are 23" apart at ride height.

What valving are on the "buy it now" 11" shocks on the ORD site? Is it correct for a normal K5 with ORD springs, or do I want to consider something else? Do you recommend different valving front/rear?
 
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