Shock length

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E

edin351

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Ok so I checked my flex today for measuring the front shock length. Completely compressed is 18" and completely extended is 25.5"

I bought Bilstein 5125s without checking the travel the correct way and so i bought shocks that were too long and are easily bottomed out. So now that I have checked my travel the correct way, i have to choose my shocks. These are my two options:

10.17" Travel: 25.93 ext; 15.91 collapsed
11.00" Travel: 28.01 ext; 17.00 collapsed

So the way I checked the travel was by putting one of the back wheels up on a lift and jacking it up until the opposite front tire was rubbing on the fender. So thats max compression, but i never got to test for max extended because the other front wheel never lifted up off the ground. (hopefully that made sense).

I am tempted to get the 11.00" travel shocks because it gives me more room on the high end because I didn't reach the max extended. On the other hand, I don't want to buy shocks that I will bottom out. I bought the 11.94" travel ones before (17.91" col) and they bottomed out pretty easily.

I feel like .91" won't make too much of a difference which makes me want to get the 10.17" travel ones so i have more room on the collapsed end...

Any suggestions? Advice?

Thanks
 
You might consider using the Ford F250 shock towers with your current shocks. The Ford towers are cheap, easy to install, and they'll give you more travel.
 
How about...jack up the rear of the truck by the frame till the axles is at full droop to get extended (axle mount point center to frame mount point center). Then with the rig back on its own weight, measure your mount point centers again, then measure from your axle bump stop pad (point where rubber bumpstop hits on axle) to your bumpstops closest point. Subtract the axle to bumpstop value from the at rest mount point centers value and then subtract 1 more inch. This new number is you compressed length. It will be the distance from mount point centers you will have when your axle is compressed enough to deflect your bumpstop 1 inch. Repeat for front. Hope that helps clarify your measurements for you.
 
LAMBCRUSHER said:
How about...jack up the rear of the truck by the frame till the axles is at full droop to get extended (axle mount point center to frame mount point center). Then with the rig back on its own weight, measure your mount point centers again, then measure from your axle bump stop pad (point where rubber bumpstop hits on axle) to your bumpstops closest point. Subtract the axle to bumpstop value from the at rest mount point centers value and then subtract 1 more inch. This new number is you compressed length. It will be the distance from mount point centers you will have when your axle is compressed enough to deflect your bumpstop 1 inch. Repeat for front. Hope that helps clarify your measurements for you.
Click to expand...

good analysis
 
Yeah actually I completely forgot about bumpstops...none are on the truck right now but I have some. i'll put those on which means I most likely will never get as close to hitting the fender with the tire again (i was about 1/8" away from hitting today while checking flex) so i could go with the longer shocks.

Thanks for the help guys!
 
i got the 10" 5125's and even then I had to extend my bumpstops about 2" and with ford shock towers it is right at the bottom of the shock.

20100404_003.jpg

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I also got some 10" 5150's for the back but will need to notch the shock towers if i want to use them up front.

to measure i removed shocks and flexed up opposing corners like this and measured each mounting point.
20100404_010.jpg
 
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