AAL's and shock hoops.

[Randy88FJ62]

I read Akarilo’s thread on his suspension setup using AAL’s and welded on shock towers to get better travel. He also did it budget which was appealing.

Has anyone modified their stock lower shock mounts up above the axle? I want to move those up and away from the rocks.

I rather do a cheap suspension setup and then decide down the road whether to stay SUA and go OME or go SOA. I can’t justify $1,000 for new heavy duty springs after one off road outing when I may want to go SOA after a year or two.

Question: Any threads on lower shock mounts being relocated? Any in depth threads on shock hoops and proper mounting?

I have a tube bender and a welder and I would fabricate all my own mounts and towers.

Thanks, Randy.

 

[DBS311]

I wouldn't worry about getting OME and then switching to SOA down the road. You can use your OME springs with your SOA (like I do) and if it's too tall you can get them de-arched. Stock springs in a spring over setup don't last very long at all. OME seem to hold up better, for me at least.

 

[Randy88FJ62]

I wouldn't worry about getting OME and then switching to SOA down the road. You can use your OME springs with your SOA (like I do) and if it's too tall you can get them de-arched. Stock springs in a spring over setup don't last very long at all. OME seem to hold up better, for me at least.

I understand that fact and also that OME is a great product. I'd rather waste $100 on AAL's for a year or two before committing to such a huge expense. $1,000 can be spent on a locker or other things right now to help me enjoy wheeling.

I'm looking for SUA setups with modified shock setups currently. The AAL's seem self explanatory so I'm not too worried about that.

 

[DBS311]

Nothing wrong with your approach at all. In fact, you can use the AAL's with a SOA setup or even with the OME (whichever route you take).

You mentioned that you've been on one offroad trip........and you already want to move the shock location? Were you dragging on them pretty bad or something? I wheeled for years with an OME setup and never had any need to relocate the shock mounts. I would even guess that most on this board with OME run their shocks in the stock location with no problems. Not trying to push an agenda, just wondering exactly why you wanted to relocate. If you mount them above the axle, the shock is now shorter and you have less available travel (unless you mount them at a drastic angle).

 

[DBS311]

Forgot to mention that shock towers on the cheap = Ford towers.

For like $35-$45 you can score some Ford towers and install longer shocks for the front. There are a number of threads with this mod.

 

[Cruzerman]

I used the Ford towers ($5 from auto wrecker) on my FJ40. Work great in that application.

 

[Randy88FJ62]

Nothing wrong with your approach at all. In fact, you can use the AAL's with a SOA setup or even with the OME (whichever route you take).

You mentioned that you've been on one offroad trip........and you already want to move the shock location? Were you dragging on them pretty bad or something? I wheeled for years with an OME setup and never had any need to relocate the shock mounts. I would even guess that most on this board with OME run their shocks in the stock location with no problems. Not trying to push an agenda, just wondering exactly why you wanted to relocate. If you mount them above the axle, the shock is now shorter and you have less available travel (unless you mount them at a drastic angle).

DBS311,
I might have to take some pictures. I took out my stock rig on a tough trail and it scraped everything. My shock mounts, u-bolts, trany and tcase skid plates, driveshaft, and front bumper.

Maybe a 2-3 inch lift and 33" tires will prevent most of the scraping I experienced?

Can I use stock shocks with a 2 in lift and 33 in tires to determine whether or not I should relocate? I assume the stock shocks are the limiting factor?