which ford towers?

[muddybuddy]

which would you prefer?

 

[sandawgk5]

I got new on mine




Ira

View attachment dshock1.JPG

 

[muddybuddy]

whered u get em and how did you pay?

 

[sandawgk5]

I got them from 84ZZ4SS on here and I think I paid $45 for the pair. They are more expensive than the stamped ones but these things are uber beef. I used 3 1/2" grade 5 bolts with pinch nuts to mount mine and the stud nut is a 12MM.

Ira

 

[justhorsinaround]

You're gonna laugh but I've got both on mine and I'm thinkin that I kind of like the diamond looking one a bit better. It's just a shock mount but it looks a little stronger and is definately heavier.

 

[NoReGrEtS]

I was just starting to do some looking in to this.
what is the point in the ford shock towers?
do the shocks bind up realy bad?

thanks Shawn

 

[muddybuddy]

sand, did you have to drill your own holes, or are there rivets you can take and use pre existing wholes?

 

[sandawgk5]

sand, did you have to drill your own holes, or are there rivets you can take and use pre existing wholes?

I used 1 existing hole but it was not from one of the rivets. I put the mount where I liked it using the 1 hole and then tightened the bracket and drilled the other 2 holes. I used an angle finder to get the brackets at the same angle on both sides. The existing hole I used was on both sides of the truck. You can see in the first pic the location of the dimple for the factory shock mount right behind the shock shaft.

For the poster above the purpose is to allow the use of a long travel shock with very little lift. I have only 4" of lift and I run 12" travel shocks front and rear . I might change to 15" travel when I move my axle forward.


Ira

 

[78Suburban]

I got stamped steel 80's towers. I drilled the holes for them today, and bought bolts.. I'm gonna bolt them up in the morning with three 1/2"x1" grade 8 bolts in the morning.. also gonna use lock washers and locktite.

Getting the holes drilled correctly was very easy.. I held the tower where I wanted it, and got a buddy to spray some paint through the two rivet holes, where the old shock mount used to be. the third hole I just picked a spot, avoiding the fuel lines on the passenger side obviously..

It was a very easy task.. and the drill press made it even easier.. I still have to bolt them up and trim off the bottoms.. I'll snap some pics soon.

 

[NoReGrEtS]

I used 1 existing hole but it was not from one of the rivets. I put the mount where I liked it using the 1 hole and then tightened the bracket and drilled the other 2 holes. I used an angle finder to get the brackets at the same angle on both sides. The existing hole I used was on both sides of the truck. You can see in the first pic the location of the dimple for the factory shock mount right behind the shock shaft.

For the poster above the purpose is to allow the use of a long travel shock with very little lift. I have only 4" of lift and I run 12" travel shocks front and rear . I might change to 15" travel when I move my axle forward.


Ira

ok I was thinking it had to be some thing like that

 

[grimjaw]

Does anyone have a part number or place to buy the newer ones? What is the Ford appilcation on these? I am thinking I want a set.

 

[mouse]

Super Duty

 

[jekbrown]

old towers have the shocks upper bolt in doubler shear. Always a good thing. They probably weigh less than the newer ones also. Either will work fine.

j

 

[neverendingproject]

I think I would like the newer ones due to the beef and since it has a stud for a shock mount instead of mounting like everthing else, you can be versatile in which way you put it. forward, backward, up or down, installation is based on how you want your shocks. And like sandawg said.... uber beer and they ony weigh 5 or 6 lbs a piece.

 

[protechk5]

the newer ones look easier to put on.

 

[steve_kibbe]

I like the old ones, pre 99 f-250

They are less expensive as well.

 

[smokkey1]

I went the easy way. I used the aux shock location to fit a 12.5 travel shock. I bought the older style but ended up selling them since I didn't really feel like messing around with the rivits and what not. It's probablt not the best way to do it. but there those cheap gabriels I got off of ebay.

 

[4X4HIGH]

I have the old stamped steel ones, the newer ones do look beefy but try welding one on the trail, cast doesn't weld good unless you have the proper rod. You can weld steel with just about anything should there ever be a problem.

 

[sandawgk5]

I have the old stamped steel ones, the newer ones do look beefy but try welding one on the trail, cast doesn't weld good unless you have the proper rod. You can weld steel with just about anything should there ever be a problem.

And my take on that is if I break a shock mount I remove the shock and keep going. Ya it is a little bouncy but hey I drove my rig for 2 months with no shocks at all .

Ira

 

[neverendingproject]

but hey I drove my rig for 2 months with no shocks at all .

Ira

Thats slightly unsmart.