Can someone explain what I need for a SOA conversion?

[rookieshooter]

Why do you have 3 shocks? I take it you are doing some hardcore 4x4'ing? I think perhaps I will just end up turning the stock shock mounts upside down like Josh did and try that for a while, if that gives me problems I will just mount them to the sway bar brackets. Now I just need to find the right spring perches...

If you mount your shock that way you might want to get the right length shock. The stock shock might not have enough travel one way or the other. I might be getting to picky though. Good Luck and post some picsl

 

[Overkil]

I to would think that the shocks would bottom out in that picture above so hopefully Josh will chime in here soon and let us know how it rides with the shocks mounted like that. As oppose to that setup what are other options for shock mounting and will I need the Superlift rear leaf springs for this or can I just use my stock ones?

I did a SOA about six months ago and my set up was exactly like josh's pictured. I figured I could just mount it up and lose a little travel, keep it that way for a while until I figured out what I wanted to do.....I lost nearly all my travel....bottomed out on everything. It got old fast. I drove it that way for less than a day. I ended up mounting the mottom of the shock to the sway bar mount. worked out perfect. I have not noticed a difference not running a rear swaybar...here's a pic:

 

[mitch]

overkil what kind of bolts did u use to mount the the bottom of the shock to the bracket, the stock ones? if they are pretty lucky they fit huh.

 

[Flex_Chris]

Overkill, I am curious how exactly you mounted the shocks to the sway bar mounts... Did that require any welding because it sure doesn't look like it did but just want to make sure because if not I might just bolt the shocks up there if it is that easy. Also are the top of the shocks still mounted in the factory location or did you relocate them?

 

[Flex_Chris]

One more question for you Overkill... May I ask where you got your skyjacker 6" lift for the front of your car? I am looking for the same lift kit for the front of my Explorer and I won't need the rear lift since I am just going SOA in the rear.

 

[j602]

Ok, let me see if I can get everything straight here. That picture of my rearend is an old and outdated one. I had my shocks like that for a while, and like Overkil, got tired of it quick. It bottoms out over anything bigger than a pebble, and rides horribly. The stock shocks in that location have about 1" of uptravel before they bottom out. I do not recommend mounting them this way.

You can bolt the shocks to the upper swaybar bolt hole with the swaybar still attached and with the stock shock bolts. All I did was drill the swaybar bracket out a tad to fit the bigger shock bolt. This is a perfect setup, and has worked great for me.

Oh, and with your driveshaft, which is U joint style, you don't need to adjust the pinion angle with the perches. You can weld them paralell to the old ones and they'll be just fine.

 

[Flex_Chris]

Perfect! Everything I need to know! Looks like I am going to get started on this this weekend. I will just remove my rear sway bar and bolt the shocks in place of the sway bar like you did. The only question I have left which I am not to sure about is what the diameter of the rear axle is? I went to my local autopart store and they have 3" spring perches for 4x4's in stock but that was the biggest they had. Someone said that they are 3.25" but not sure. Does anyone have a for sure answer on that?

 

[Jefe]

Here is my SOA shock mount:

http://www.jefethegreat.com/host_pics/SOA_shock_mt.JPG

I originally went with the bolt through the top of the swaybar bracket, but ripped a bolt out after bottoming out the rear too many times. I then went and bought some shock adapters from 4WP and welded them on at the correct angle.

EDIT: and yes, the axle tube is 3.25" dia. Most people end up buying the 3" perches and grinding till it fits.

 

[Flex_Chris]

Which adapters did you order from 4WP or will any of them work?

 

[Jefe]

Which adapters did you order from 4WP or will any of them work?

As long as it bolts through the shock, and you can modify it to work for your aplication who cares.