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Rear Shock Relocation Question

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by mmcmahan2206, Aug 29, 2012.

  1. Aug 29, 2012 at 7:54 PM
    #1
    mmcmahan2206

    mmcmahan2206 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    So my leaf pack hit and bent in the side of my rear shocks after wheeling up in the mountains a couple of weekends ago. I didn't think I did too much crazyness, but it still found a way to flex and rub, and now there's an ugly spot where the shock is dented in and scraped the paint off. :mad:

    My question is this: When relocating the rear shocks, what's the pros and cons to setting up your shocks like / \ compared to \ /???

    I relaize that if I went \ / way, then I could still use the top shock mounts and just relocate the bottoms to the axle (which would be easier). But I just wanna know what's best.

    Thanks in advance for all the helpful info! ;)

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Aug 29, 2012 at 7:54 PM
    #2
    Max-4_Yota

    Max-4_Yota The Welfare Cadilac

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    Thought you were getting a Dodge??? :D
     
  3. Aug 29, 2012 at 7:56 PM
    #3
    mmcmahan2206

    mmcmahan2206 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Man!!! You guys aren't gonna let me live that down, huh?? :(
     
  4. Aug 29, 2012 at 7:57 PM
    #4
    Max-4_Yota

    Max-4_Yota The Welfare Cadilac

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    Joking.....but probably not. :p

    Personally i've never seen shocks mounted like \ /. Not sure if that would even work.

    And from what i've read mounting them like / \ gives you more flex but makes the shocks less effective.
     
  5. Aug 29, 2012 at 7:59 PM
    #5
    jandrews

    jandrews Hootin' and Hollerin'

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    What's "best"?

    Changing shock angle has several notable effects. What do you want the shocks to do? Provide more travel? Just clear the leaf springs? There are a lot of pluses and minuses to consider.

    Inboarding at the bottom and outboarding at the top is NOT advised.
     
  6. Aug 29, 2012 at 8:00 PM
    #6
    colinb17

    colinb17 If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving

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    mounting shocks like this is bad \ / it will dampen you when the truck goes up and down, but will do nothing to dampen lean and swaying side to side. like this / \ will get you the clearance you need as well as a little extra travel.
     
  7. Aug 29, 2012 at 8:01 PM
    #7
    colinb17

    colinb17 If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving

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    also, while doing this / \ will help, it lessens the shocks dampening ability. not a big deal, you just need to realize you are a little more limited if you like to wheel fast.
     
  8. Aug 29, 2012 at 8:02 PM
    #8
    jandrews

    jandrews Hootin' and Hollerin'

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    He will also get a lot less dampening with this configuration and sway/body roll with loads or towing could be problematic. He would need to compensate by going to a stiffer valving in the shock, or adding another suspension component like airbags/timbrens.

    Even then, with stiff dampening, his truck might still have trouble dealing with loaded situations. But yes, he would gain rear axle travel provided his leafs/bumpstops don't limit it first.
     
  9. Aug 29, 2012 at 8:03 PM
    #9
    colinb17

    colinb17 If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving

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    noted that just afterwards, probably while you were typing
     
  10. Aug 29, 2012 at 8:05 PM
    #10
    jandrews

    jandrews Hootin' and Hollerin'

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    Yeah, saw that afterwards. Happens :notsure:
     
  11. Aug 29, 2012 at 8:07 PM
    #11
    colinb17

    colinb17 If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving

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    if nothing else, it just reinforces the statement.
     
  12. Aug 29, 2012 at 8:16 PM
    #12
    jandrews

    jandrews Hootin' and Hollerin'

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    Agreed.
     
  13. Aug 30, 2012 at 8:27 AM
    #13
    mmcmahan2206

    mmcmahan2206 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    So I've been talking to a guy at AllProOffRoad that questioned me on why I'd want 4 shock brackets instead of 2 and just reuse the top mounts while only relocating the bottom mounts onto the axle. And I've only really seen the \ / pattern, and am being told that the / \ pattern works fine, which is why I ask.
     
  14. Aug 30, 2012 at 8:40 AM
    #14
    colinb17

    colinb17 If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving

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    All Pro makes shock brackets? I mean, i know they have the tools to, i just didn't know they did make them. what they may be telling you is to move the bottom mounts inwards jsut a little. our shocks actually sit tilted in at the top just a little from the factory, so he may be telling you to take them from / \ to | |. move the bottom mounts in a couple inches to get vertical shocks.
     
  15. Aug 30, 2012 at 8:52 AM
    #15
    mmcmahan2206

    mmcmahan2206 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Ok, that makes sense. And keep the one shock forward and one shock backward setup?
     
  16. Aug 30, 2012 at 8:57 AM
    #16
    colinb17

    colinb17 If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving

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    correct. and based on the dent you posted the picture of (fairly minimal), you really don't have to move them over far, which would help keep the handling pretty much the same as what you have now.
     
  17. Aug 30, 2012 at 9:26 AM
    #17
    mmcmahan2206

    mmcmahan2206 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Ok, gotcha! Thanks for all the helpful info! :D
     
  18. Sep 5, 2012 at 9:03 PM
    #18
    mmcmahan2206

    mmcmahan2206 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    And now I can finally do the u-bolt flip mod! Woo hoo! Ordering parts tomorrow! ;)
     
  19. Sep 6, 2012 at 2:06 PM
    #19
    TacoDell

    TacoDell Truck ~n~ Tow

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    ^ to avoid shock body dents, utilizing the oem configuration,
    made by contact with the leaf spring...


    I spaced mine inboard 5/8"


    * mine are the bilstein 5125 (8" n 8.5") shocks (up to 3" lift)
    But this would work for other similar length shocks.


    shockmod39_1af90de7fdd37ca63e42b836c651b6a779f6eef6.jpg

    shockmod26_5f57b5b9d0e15152dcfbcd4ecf734b7a7cfcd1ba.jpg

    shockmod30_1b035282f7327a8e2dc4b118bc5da637bf9e83ca.jpg

    shockmod10_e54ef2f39b3ba76e5998ccfbfde6933fa0366660.jpg

    shockmod11_8ae4a27ae5096b583547822cd822327dfe2cb458.jpg

    shockmod03_a5ab7e9b2e821494eb9649a31af93ed41df2a095.jpg

    shockmod38_76f04d95215ff270bc69682bf82393ac4e241768.jpg
     
  20. Sep 6, 2012 at 7:14 PM
    #20
    SafetyDang

    SafetyDang get your facts straight

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    I've done the same as Tacodell before doing my shock relocation. Make sure to add a larger bump since there is more leverage on the upper mount after the mod.
     

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