Measuring for longer Travel Shock with a hmmmm

[zhanx]

Ok i measured the stock front shocks

5.5" almost of travel - wow even
Extened 18.75 maybe a tad more
Colased 13.5

which give a stock travel of 5.25" or so (just a tad more)

Disconnected the top and jacked up the el trucko. Got 20.6 top to bottom
the shock sits at 18.5 on the pavement level - thats only a 1/4 inch of travel i measured 4 times.

With stem to eye adapters i will lose/gain 1/2 of height
With jks bar pin eliminators i love .41 so about an 1. ( 20 tj front shocks the top matches the bottom of the explorer so i can use these to hold the bottom of the shock)

A Bilstein 8" travel shoch is 13.58 colapsed with adapter 14.58 (still room to travel up and max up my upward travel due to bump stops by 1/2 or so)

It has a Extened length of 21.54 with adapters it with be 22.54 or so which will leave 2" of travel left in the shock and bind everything up in the cv's

A 6.5 travel is only 18.5 extended and 12.00 collapsed - with adapters it only goves me an inch more travel.


Now should i go with the 8" travel shock and limit strap it after 3" since after that i start to bind or should i play it safe and go with the 6.5 and not really gain anything and continue to use the shock as a limit strap in the front. Right my front shocks are toast and i still haven't had time to start/finish my SAS planning which looks like i might start next summer now due to time and school etc.

 

[SteveG3]

The post is a little confusing.

Are you trying to fit the longest shock possible in the stock location?

What else do you have for suspension? Drop brackets? Extended radius arms?

 

[zhanx]

<- Title says all measuring for a longer travel. i.e longer but at the same time not trying to break my junk. gave all the measurement cause i had them and i know some people would want them. thinking of just getting the 8" travel and straps.

 

[BigDave!!!]

8" travel and straps would be your best bet, you dont want your shock limiting your droop.

 

[zhanx]

fyi jks bar pin eliminators are a perfect fit. Part number PN9603 for the front top of a TJ works for the from bottom shocks of the 2nd gen.

correction - you have to ream out the hole with a 3/8 drill drill seems the stock hole is metric and than its just a little tight fot it to fit and the kit is standard. easy fix and allows for more shock options.