front shock question

[Jimmy P]

ive got air rides bolt on shock kit which i will be welding in place. I am also planning on using the supplied monroe (i think) shocks. Possibly upgrading to HALs all the way around someday. My question is this..would it be better to make my own mounts that are higher and allow a longer shock? Would this provide a better ride/performance? If its not going to be a drastic difference then ill just use the air ride setup.

[chevy8869]

Well are you still going to run inner fenders? If your not going to run inner fenders and don't mind welding then fab'n your own brackets will get you the best ride allowing a longer shock with more travel. Ask Beyond Static about his setup, he has pictures too, although I think his brackets could use some smoothing out and paint. LOL! I still have the inner fenders and the bolt on ART front shock setup. I had to cut holes in the inner fenders for the stem to stick up through. I also had to try a few different shocks until I found the right size one (Doestch Tech part no. 4039G) that would give me enough lift and also not bottom the shocks out when I aired out. Also make sure to drill the holes on the lower control arm as low as you can to give you the most travel, I had to torch the lower lip on the control arm so the shock stud would fit flush against the arm. Look at it and you'll see what I'm talking about. Now since your running 20's the shock I stated probably won't work for you. Hope some of this helps.

[Beyond Static©]

The reason my shock mounts dont look good is because I am not using them anymore. If I planned on it, I would have made them look good. Im building a 10" tall shock hoop to run a rear shock up front.

[Jimmy P]

The reason my shock mounts dont look good is because I am not using them anymore. If I planned on it, I would have made them look good. Im building a 10" tall shock hoop to run a rear shock up front.

yea i remember you talking about running a alonger shock. How does it help ride exactly?

[Beyond Static©]

I havent finished the hoop to mount the shocks yet. I will be done by this weekend coming up hopefully........When I am 1" from layin out, I should have like 2.5" of travel left in the shock, giving a pretty good ride. Then, at ride height, the shock will have about 5" of travel left.

[Jimmy P]

I havent finished the hoop to mount the shocks yet. I will be done by this weekend coming up hopefully........When I am 1" from layin out, I should have like 2.5" of travel left in the shock, giving a pretty good ride. Then, at ride height, the shock will have about 5" of travel left.

so basically the shock rides better in the middle of its travel?

[Beyond Static©]

yea, if the shock only has like 1" of travel at ride height, it will ride like poo.

[dapolice1]

Hey Kyle,
Let me know on the Shock mounts. I need to build some around a HAL shock because I want to use them all around. I can not find a HAL replacement yet for the OBS KP 6 link rear kit yet. ANyone know the part number?

[Beyond Static©]

I bent the hoops today out of 1.5" Chromolly tubing. The hoop is 11" above the frame, using a 23" long shock. I just gotta relocate a few lines, and weld it on.

[dapolice1]

I think the KP rear shock is the same length isn't it?

[Beyond Static©]

dunno about the length. They look pretty same in length. The shock im usin is for like a 4" rear drop on the truck.

[Jimmy P]

ok so if a longer shock gives a better ride...why do most people use the short shock? What limits the size most people use? Clearances? Strength of the top mount?

Ive got to move mine up since i cut down my cups now but im just trying to figure out how far..

[Beyond Static©]

I got one of the hoops welded, and the shock is in place. The problem with a short shock is that when you ride low, the ride quality is pretty bad because the shock is almost bottomed out. The short shock is used because making a hoop for a long shock is a PITA. My old short shocks(ART front shocks) required a mount 4" above the frame to lay out. The new shocks require a hoop 10" above the frame. It was tough doing the hoop on the passangers side. All kinds of crap was in the way. The drivers side will be easier.

[Beyond Static©]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/beyondstatic20z/100_1790.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/beyondstatic20z/100_1789.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/beyondstatic20z/100_1793.jpg

[slowandlowon20s]

i see you have a new battery tray there kyle, the hoops look good

[Drgn20's]

looks good

[Beyond Static©]

i see you have a new battery tray there kyle, the hoops look good

haha, yea chase. The day after the meet I built a new one, and bought a new battery. :banghead: