how do you measure for shocks?

[jd4242]

Yea, I found the jack method just doesn't quite cut it. Run out of Jack, stability or just don't get enough weight on it.

The flex of the rear axle really increases when you get the weight on it. There is no way I can get our rear axle to move like this by just using the jack method.

~Mark

yep i do agree

 

[Maniak]

From what I see/remember.. The explorer rear shocks are an xp7 upper (dogbone) and a ls26 lower (eye style).

The RS99278 is 15.5 compressed and 25.125 extended..

Are you saying you can use an eye on the top and bottom? IF so, which mount? I wouldn't expect it to be an ls26 on both upper and lower.

~Mark

 

[jd4242]

You know what you are right.I thought the dogbone went in the eye design.yea I saw that shock but really wanted something that would compress to 13 so I didn't have to put the extended bump stops in.might have to tho

 

[4X50 Exploder]

Yea, I found the jack method just doesn't quite cut it. Run out of Jack, stability or just don't get enough weight on it...


~Mark

I know we talked about your front setup in the past and you aren't stock... I’m kind of curious what setup you’re running in the rear. How much travel in the rear are you getting on what spring/axle setup? What are the specs on your shocks?

When I was trying to pick my new shocks, I was surprised that I was only getting 4" of shock travel despite my rear wheels coming 14-15" off the ground... Yea it was testing in the shop but as you can see in the pics, it was twisting up pretty good.

I ended up choosing Rancho 9000XL shocks, the RS999028 with 11.25" of travel (16.8-28.1"). They were the largest range I could find that would work on the stock springs (with SOA), custom mount location, and still give me lots of room for growth when I decide what the future holds for new springs...

 

[jd4242]

16.8 wouldn't cut it for me.I hqve soa superlift mounts in the rear.I could get it to compress to all most 16.8 with a jack and still had 4" till I hit stock bump stops.so you have to subtract what is left in the bump stops out of what compressed measurement.not all 4" needs be taken off but I did just to be safe.there is a calculation for what needs to be subtracted by the angle of the shock.jack yours back up and see how much is left till you hit bump stops.

 

[ld50]

I figured mine out a little differently.

Static length should be factored in for calculation.
Static length is the measurement between mounting points at rest.
If you want more travel from your shocks, you want to mount them as far apart at static length as you can.

Shock lengths are really limited by static length.

For example:

You have a static mounting distance of 21 inches and you want 5.5-6 inches compression and 5.5-6 inches extension from that point. This equates to a needed compressed length of 15-15.5 inches and an extended length of 26.5-27 inches.

You will soon find that this shock does not exist.

Now, look again with a 24 inch static shock length. Now you want a compressed length of 18-18.5 inches and an extended length of 29.5-30 inches. Now there are several options.
(from my full width thread)

Basically when I was planning my shocks I measured from the lower mounts to bump stops plus 1 inch or so to determine how much compressed length was desirable. I quickly found that I needed more static length so I extended my lower mounting point so my static length was 24 inches. Once I had my compressed length and static length figured out, shock selection was easier. I also knew that my axle would droop more than it compressed. I bought the longest shocks I could find, as long as they jived with the compressed length and extended well past static the extra droop was icing on the cake.

My shocks are RanchoRS9000XL

 

[jd4242]

O yea that's right 4x50 did mount his lower so 16.5 might be fine.how did you lower yours? I don't really want to lower mine,I can just move the bumps stops down 2" there is a lot of shocks in that rang

 

[ld50]

I built my lower mount points off of my Warrior shock mount skidplates rather that weld new mounts to the axles.

Funny looking with no shock on there but functional!

 

[4X50 Exploder]

16.8 wouldn't cut it for me.I hqve soa superlift mounts in the rear.I could get it to compress to all most 16.8 with a jack and still had 4" till I hit stock bump stops.so you have to subtract what is left in the bump stops out of what compressed measurement.not all 4" needs be taken off but I did just to be safe.there is a calculation for what needs to be subtracted by the angle of the shock.jack yours back up and see how much is left till you hit bump stops.

That's why I'm so currious about Maniak's setup... Trying to get a 13" compressed shock is going to keep you limited to 8" or less total travel range. The stock shock has 9.8". I really wonder just how close a rig really can come to the bump stop when flexed to the max on stock springs??? Once you have gone SOA wouldn't the bump stop need to be droped 5-6"? Did you count for that?

Where is you lower shock mount at? Remember, my lower mount is out to the inner edge of the springs and almost even with the bottom of the axle tube (SOA) so my numbers may be taller. I'm also going to have a pickup bed on mine instead of a full body so I should be getting more droop than stuff.

You're making me nuts! I have a ton of things I should be doing and now I want to pull her back into the shop to break out the hoist, jack and jack stands to really twist her up...

 

[4X50 Exploder]

...but functional!

Great looking rig. The Mounties up there must be really laid back or can't catch ‘ya on horseback! (JK) The cops down here would eat you alive with tickets for bumper height, fender coverage, mud flaps... I think they should rename our cops the Washington State Fundraising Association! They will drive by several hookers and a dozen drug deals just to site someone for something like their license plate light being out, = $104.

 

[Maniak]

I know we talked about your front setup in the past and you aren't stock... I’m kind of curious what setup you’re running in the rear. How much travel in the rear are you getting on what spring/axle setup? What are the specs on your shocks?

When I was trying to pick my new shocks, I was surprised that I was only getting 4" of shock travel despite my rear wheels coming 14-15" off the ground... Yea it was testing in the shop but as you can see in the pics, it was twisting up pretty good.

I ended up choosing Rancho 9000XL shocks, the RS999028 with 11.25" of travel (16.8-28.1"). They were the largest range I could find that would work on the stock springs (with SOA), custom mount location, and still give me lots of room for growth when I decide what the future holds for new springs...

My rear springs are now OME-36 springs that are very worn. I replaced one of the shorter leaves with a longer/thicker one from an f-150 or explorer (I can't remember which anymore). I also have War-153 shackles back there.. Those springs are extremely soft. Its to the point now that I can't really tow with them. Its about a 4" lift in the rear now

Also, sway bars are lying in the yard (at least they were last time I saw them)...

As for rear shocks. I'm using these..
Model Top mount Bott mount Comp Extended
RS99266 XP7 LS26 16.875 28.125

~Mark

 

[ld50]

I haven't been bothered yet, but I am pushing it with bumper height. This pic is more what it looks likefrom behind now, it wasn't finished in other pics.

And flares help!

 

[jd4242]

That's why I'm so currious about Maniak's setup... Trying to get a 13" compressed shock is going to keep you limited to 8" or less total travel range. The stock shock has 9.8". I really wonder just how close a rig really can come to the bump stop when flexed to the max on stock springs??? Once you have gone SOA wouldn't the bump stop need to be droped 5-6"? Did you count for that?

Where is you lower shock mount at? Remember, my lower mount is out to the inner edge of the springs and almost even with the bottom of the axle tube (SOA) so my numbers may be taller. I'm also going to have a pickup bed on mine instead of a full body so I should be getting more droop than stuff.

You're making me nuts! I have a ton of things I should be doing and now I want to pull her back into the shop to break out the hoist, jack and jack stands to really twist her up...

No you probably are ok with the 16.8 I forgot you had moved them down a bit.no with a shock that has a compressed of 13 and extended 26 that's 13" of travel and no you don't have to lower the bump stops unless you can't find a shock with that rang,witch seems like they make more 15 compressed and 26 extended.so if I just lower my bump stops 2" ill be fine.

 

[jd4242]

My rear springs are now OME-36 springs that are very worn. I replaced one of the shorter leaves with a longer/thicker one from an f-150 or explorer (I can't remember which anymore). I also have War-153 shackles back there.. Those springs are extremely soft. Its to the point now that I can't really tow with them. Its about a 4" lift in the rear now

Also, sway bars are lying in the yard (at least they were last time I saw them)...

As for rear shocks. I'm using these..
Model Top mount Bott mount Comp Extended
RS99266 XP7 LS26 16.875 28.125

~Mark

Do you run stock bump stops?any problem with your 16.8 max out?

 

[Maniak]

Yes, I run stock bump stops, BUT I don't think I'm hitting them.

I don't jump the truck so its extremely rare, if it has ever happened that I would get both tires going up at the same time enough that they would hit.

When wheeling the tires stop moving up because the tire is shoved into the wheel well. When "twisted" the top of the tire is really into the inner fender on the rear wheel well.

I do know my shocks are too short. With the springs just hanging (no shocks or tires) the shocks aren't log enough.

I need to pull the shocks off the back and then twist it up by the house and see what the measurements are now. I haven't done much with the rear. The rear pretty much just always worked (once I went to the ome springs) well off-road.

~Mark

 

[jd4242]

dang your maxing out the 28" shock,thats some flexn there!!i just talked to JD and they make a shock that is 16-26 that i will problily go with unless the rs 99266 is cheaper.i have some 17-31 on there now that im just going to throw away if anyone wants them.

 

[jd4242]

well looks like they dont make the rs99266 anymore.it was replaced with a rs999266
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/RAN-RS999266/
and they are super costly,but they are offering a credit card worth a $100 when you but a set.i think ill go with JD they are $38 with boot,im just worried how the 70/30 is going to feel on the road

 

[Maniak]

well looks like they dont make the rs99266 anymore.it was replaced with a rs999266
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/RAN-RS999266/
and they are super costly,but they are offering a credit card worth a $100 when you but a set.i think ill go with JD they are $38 with boot,im just worried how the 70/30 is going to feel on the road

I tried the 70/30 shocks up front when we first got our James Duff lift. I didn't like the feel so I went with the rs9000's (now 9000xls I think).

~Mark

 

[jd4242]

looks like im might be taking too much off for the bump stop.any one know how to figure out how much more i need to take off if the shock is mounted at a 70* angle and compressed is 17 and there is 4" left till i hit bump stop?

 

[jd4242]

I tried the 70/30 shocks up front when we first got our James Duff lift. I didn't like the feel so I went with the rs9000's (now 9000xls I think).

~Mark

really?for off road or on road feel? yea the rs9000 seem to be really good shocks but i just cant afford $100 a shock.this new rear end and gears have BROKE the bank as is!!