Those of you with SOA/SF: What Kind Of Shocks?

[duncanstives]

I have my front SOA done and am getting ready to do the back.I do not yet have shocks since I need to put it on a ramp and measure to make sure I get the right lengths. So... If you have SOA/SF or about 6-7in on lift via other methods: What sort of shocks did you wind up with in terms of compressed length, exstended length, brand, etc. I am also interested in knowing how and where you put your shock mounts, how the ride is... Basically any info you can give me. Pics of you shock set-up/mounts or you rig in general (because who doesn't like pics right?) woudl really help.

Thanks!

[Casey]

Here's my 70 w/6" of lift. The shocks are Rancho 5112 (don't recall the length) that were on my Chief w/SF.

I rotated the mounts up level with the tube to keep from tearing them off.

[Tad]

5112's here also, with mounts rotated up out of the way.
I have a little more compression room in back now with the longer shackles but I did have to lower my bump stops a lot to keep from blowing them out or hitting my rear fender openings. I'd for sure do it a bit different next time.



IIRC they are 16" compressed and 26" extended.
I run the same shocks up front.



Those are moved up also using GM replacement mounts that are tabbed onto my axle truss.



Your positioning will be more like Casey's since the older frames and front shock towers are different (I'm also running trimmed down F250/F30 shock towers up front now).

I'll go with something longer in the rear someday for better droop but that will mean cutting up into the floor in the rear for me.

Here's a list of Rancho shock sizes that I pulled together from several sources a few years back.
http://members.cox.net/tadsal/Rancho...ck%20Sizes.pdf
Rancho uses a slightly different mount coding these days IIRC but our FSJ's take the EB1 mount. You should be able to x-reference to other makes from the Rancho part numbers.

[jeeping1974]

I don't run any......... of course mine doesn run period. lol

[duncanstives]

Thanks!

So the shock mounts are OK to just connect to one side of the shock bushing with just the bolt head on the other side?
I was gonna build some mounts that were two sided but it would be a lot easier to make them like yours... Which DO look pretty sturdy.

Since you guys both run 5112s: Hows the ride? Offroad performance is my primary concern but I do want this jeep to be safe and have at least semi decent road performance.

[duncanstives]

Originally Posted by jeeping1974

I don't run any......... of course mine doesn run period. lol

Mine runs...
KIND OF!

[Tad]

Originally Posted by duncanstives

Thanks!

So the shock mounts are OK to just connect to one side of the shock bushing with just the bolt head on the other side?...

That's what they were stock on the older rigs out back and in the front for the lower mount, very similar to the stud bolt setup used on the frames of GM trucks up front. I've tweaked that mounting tab on the front axle a couple of times prior to lowering the bump stops.
I'd mount them about even with the middle of the axle tube up front next time.

GM Type Replacement mount:



I'll probably use something similar to this if I move them lower on the tube up front, probably something I make that's a bit beefier when I get the time.

Originally Posted by duncanstives

...Since you guys both run 5112s: Hows the ride? Offroad performance is my primary concern but I do want this jeep to be safe and have at least semi decent road performance.

I like them just fine. Obviously non-adjustable like the 9000 series, probably stiffer than most but I've been driving work trucks for so long it just feels normal.

[mudjammer]

Hey Tad, I thought you were running dual shocks up front with the mounts on the side of the leaf spring platse?

[Tad]

Originally Posted by mudjammer

Hey Tad, I thought you were running dual shocks up front with the mounts on the side of the leaf spring platse?

Not on the Wag.
Tried that setup for my J2000, I just never really went any further with it and have since given the truck away.

[Casey]

I'm running the 5112s at both ends as well.
I have to install a limiting strap up front or get a longer shock. I'm going to make some new front hoops in the near future and try to get a little longer shock. Bump stops have been lowered 1.5".
My rear D70 hits my gas tank before it bottoms out so I don't need bump stops. Droop seemed to be ok with the little wheeling I put it through so far.

The ride is fine. I like the Ranchos.

[otway-jack]

Hope this helps duncanstives
I did a SOA on the front of my J20 and used shocks from Chassis Tech in Arizona.
1930LL is the part No. they have no brand name on them and the box they came in has long gone.
19 " closed 30" open.
Chassis Tech shipped them to Australia with out any issue. I will be buying from them again.

I used original upper and lower shock mounts.

I found the ride quality to be very good with 35X12.5 BFG muds.

The only thing better than looking at photo's is showing off photo's
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[Sambo]

5112,which should be 12" travel.was running them front and rear,till i blew the front set. got airbourne once!

[duncanstives]

Thanks everyone!
5112s seems to be pretty popular... I think I will go with that assuming the lengths work once I get my jeep on a ramp (I am guessing they will since they have worked for everyone else). Any advice on on the best place to buy them? A place called autoanything is selling them for $60 and they have a sale that ends today that gives you $20 off + free shipping... Good deal?

[JeepinPete]

I ran Bilstein 10" up front, and 12" in the rear. Out back I used the factory mounting points. Up front, I used springs plates with the sway bar link studs. Swapped the plates side to side and use the link studs as mounts for the shocks.

[bearfacedkiller]

I am trying to figure out my shocks as well. I am soa with 4" springs and this is what I have figured out. I had 4 16" travel procomp es3000 shocks laying around which is way too long for what I need but I put them on the front. In the pic you can see that my shock mount on my dodge d60 is like tads and seems very strong.





with a four inch spring and soa and that shock mount the shock which only has about 15.5" of travel sits with 5 inches of compression and 10.5 inches of droop. A 14" travel shock will yeild 6" up and 7.5" down which might be better but without flexing who knows. You can also see in the next picture how I had to move the shock tower which was very easy. I am going to upgrade the bolts since I had to use motor mount bolts to hold it on.



For the rear it looks like if I use the stock mounts on the frame and weld on new mount level with the axle tube I will get 6" up and 5.75" down with the twelve inch travel es3000 based on their stated travel. Here is a pic of the rear. I just cut the old mount off yesterday.



I haven't flexed my rig out yet as it still needs driveshafts and exhaust to move but this is my setup and what I have figured out. This is all with 4" springs too.

[fsjbrian]

anyone ever used bilstein 5125's with a soa and shackle flip kit?
dana 44's. stock shock locations, rear axle mounts turned up for clearance. if so, what lengths front and rear?

[duncanstives]

Originally Posted by bearfacedkiller

In the pic you can see that my shock mount on my dodge d60 is like tads and seems very strong.

I had similar mounts... I bought them from bluetorch fab... They broke (not at the weld... They actually tore the metal of the mount itself... Apppartently from fatigue).

Now I installed some there are more than twice as thick and I put two of them on each shock (one on each side).

[cmelo]

Originally Posted by fsjbrian

anyone ever used bilstein 5125's with a soa and shackle flip kit?
dana 44's. stock shock locations, rear axle mounts turned up for clearance. if so, what lengths front and rear?

I have 12" travel bilstein 5150s up front with SOA on stock springs and axle bolted in the stock location. Not alot of room for up travel but my springs are about flat at ride height so that works out good. I have rear s10 bumpstops up front and then the "secondary" little bumpstops on the shock itself. Rides like a dream.


In the back I have 10" travel edelbrock IAS shocks with the mounts moved up on the axle.

[Tigger4X]

Originally Posted by duncanstives

Mine runs...
KIND OF!

Perfect stance for hunting owls!!

[duncanstives]

Originally Posted by Tigger4X

Perfect stance for hunting owls!!

As long as they were not far from the road... The two different ratios would have made 4wd a no go... Lol

I obviously did not actually DRIVE it like that... Of course now it has the opposite problem... Just not quite as bad.