What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Ultimate Shock Length

Smitty

Smitty

1/2 ton status
Joined
Sep 1, 2000
Posts
998
Reaction score
1
Location
Crestview, FL
Well I got an eye opener today while working on my K-5. Decided to put the poly bushings in the leaf springs today. I disconnected the sway bar and jacked the truck up to take the weight off the springs. The shocks wouldn't let me get enough weight off the springs, so I disconnected them too. I went ahead and changed the bushings out and started to put it back together. This was when I noticed something wrong.

:eek1: The shocks are only about 3/4" below the bottom mount holes when fully they are extended (with the full weight of the truck on the spring)!:eek1: This truck came from the factory with 4 shocks on the front. I want to just go with two shocks on the front but want something that will allow at least a little flex. I'm not looking to do anything special to the truck like shock hoops or anything, but I figure the front should be able to drop more that 3/4". :confused: How do I go about measuring for a new pair of shocks?:confused:
 
neverendingproject said:
cough cough ford shock towers cough
Click to expand...

I hear you on the ford towers. Just don't want to go through all of that for what this truck will be doing. I figure I should be able to get more than a lousy 3/4" flex if I change the shocks.
 
the set of ford towers cost me like 25 bucks, and if I can remove rivets, anybody can :deal:
 
2 questions. Are the shock towers off a 4x4 or 2wd. also the local yards want 100. per pair? anyone able to grab some?
 
Shock towers are for 4x4. You can get the newer superduty ones NEW from the ford house for 58 dollars and 25 sound about right for the old ones.
 
Bought my stamped steel ford towers from the dealer for $9.11 each.
 
They do not make them anymore for the old trucks. they have been discontinued? Good Part# anyone?
 
liv24wheel said:
So how do you figure out what travel of shock you need to get?
Click to expand...

I figure I'll compress the suspension and go 1.5" shorter for the compressed length. Then fully extend the suspension and go 1" longer for the extended length. Then I'll find a shock that fits these measurements. I have a set of the cast towers on the way and once they're mounted I'll go from there. Not too sure if this is the right way to measure for a shock, but I don't see why it won't work.
 
I used rancho rs99012 I think it was. 13.5 inches of travel, but they make one with 15 inches. the 13.5 was pretty close to max compression when I put it on, so there should be lots of droop.
 
Thanks for the starting point. I'll let you know what I end up going with when my mounts get here.
 
If a shock is almost at full compression when mounted; wont it be really hard on the shock bottoming out? And wont it limit articulation by bottoming out?
 
I have stiff ass super lift springs,and I have 4 inches of spring lift and about 5.5 inches, (which really isnt a bunch if you look at the whole shock) of shock left to compress. It will hit my pitman arm before it bottoms out. Its also mounted as high as I can get it. The picture shows how close the shock/mount is to my heater box.

DSC00872.JPG
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom