Determining what size shock i need?

Im planning on doing oem replacement 8 pack deavers with a good set of 2.5 smooth bodies and a bed cage. How am i supposed to know what size shocks to get? Like what stroke and travel? What exactly does stroke mean?

 

Stroke and travel are the same thing, but remember that the travel of the shock is not going to be the same as wheel travel in the vast majority of applications.

You need to read the stickied threads in this section.

There is really no purpose in building a bed cage and moving to large, longer travel shocks if you are going to keep the stock leaf spring configuration (spring over axle).

The shock's mounting points on the axle and the bed cage, in combination with the angle of the shock and the amount of wheel travel, will dictate what length and travel shock you will require.

There is no book answer. Most trucks are using 14-18'' travel shocks depending on application. Welcome to the world of custom fabrication.

 

didn't like the integra huh? haha not surprised.

 

Hahah yeah I did just always looked back at pictures of my taco and couldn't resist one again.. and my favorite front ends are the 01-04s so i had to get one haha! glad to be back though!

 

Ah okay that makes sense, yeah ive been reading just hard finding the answers i want! So your saying theres no point of getting longer shocks with the 8 pack deavers?

 

Longer shocks can be a nice benifit. But what he is saying is no one can tell you what size to get untill you have the leafs and a figure out where your gonna mount the shocks and the angle they will be at. There are too many factors to take into account with a custom job like that.

that said, IMO if your gonna build a bed cage..might as well go SUA and full LT.

 

This ^^^

You going MT or LT?

 

If he is doing an OEM replacement..Has to be Mid travel.

 

Ah okay i understand that. What fabrication and custom work is required to do rear LT? Is it a lot more money to build? Whats exactly required?

I was thinking MT but if LT isnt that much more work then maybe that! haha

 

Didn't read that part

Are you a pre runner or 4x4?

LT you'd need a bed cage, SUA, and LT leaves, possibly a shackle that mounts on top of the rear frame.

 

Alot of work. Relocating both spring hangers, custom shackles usually, bigger shocks(16-18), bed cage, frame reinforcment, bump stops..really you can go as far as you want..haha can run pretty expensive..

 

also this^^^

IMO it isn't worth it, you can't tow as much well/comfortably with a LT rear vs MT, plus you use some bed space to a bed cage, plus it's $$$$

 

He is wanting abed cage either way..

Honestly id just relocate the shocks still under the bed. You could still fit 10-12s under for a good mid travel setup.

 

What shocks do silas have? his are pretty long IIRC.

 

Prerunner! Whats involved in doing a SUA?

Ahhh sounds like too much $$ for me hahah! I was thinking a nice set of used j59 deavers for $450, get a used pair of 12-14" 2.5s and rebuild em, and not a full bed cage but just something to mount the shocks to. I have an idea of what i want in my head haha.

I dont do too much towing anyways except take a dirt bile or 2 out once in a while.the idea i have for the "cage" should let me keep my bed space. Im not thinking full out cage, just a mount on one side, tube going from top left corner to top right corner and down to the other shock mount

 

Like the first pic in this thread

 

So just a nice simple cage, almost just hoops?

 

Silas has 14'' but they are mounted like /\ which is not good for high speed stuff. They don't dampen as much due to the angle.

 

thats for a LT setup You won't need shocks mounted that high for a mid travel setup.

I do something like what Adam did (boxrocket) or Littlebro5 for relocate with 10 or 12'' short body shocks. You won't need a bed cage.

 

Yeah exactly nothing crazy just functional

Whats a short body shock? Could i just use regular foxes kings or saws? What do you think of the bilstein 7100s? Would they be okay in high speed applications if valved correctly? Those are rebuildable right?