AAL OR DAKARS?

Seems like a 14" compressed/27" extended shock would be ideal for Dakar leaf packs. Not sure if its possible to get that much travel while still being able to compress to 14".

 

I think you may have read something wrong.

I'm not using a spacer on my rear superbumps, and my shit compresses real well!

Pics!

You can see super bump in photo.

 

I think what arcticelf and I are talking about is the difference in compressed length of the shocks. OEM and OME compress to 14", while the shocks you run compress to 16.34". In your last photo it looks like the leaves are pretty stuffed- do you think the leaf pack could go another 2.34" if the shocks could? Basically, do the stock/OME shocks have almost 2.5" of room left when using the stock bump stops?

 

Not really. The springs were already negative. There is still some uptravel because poly bump stops are dynamic. They will limit travel before shocks bottom out. And IMO you'll never see OME shock compress down to 14 on our trucks. OME shocks are dumb. Stupid design, and stupid dimensions.

My whole point in this dialog was to show that it's completely unnecessary to do a shock relocation with a Dakar leaf pack. The leaf pack is too short to take advantage of longer than 11" stroke shock.

So moral of story is put the leaf pack on truck sans shock, measure full droop, compression, then go shopping for shocks.

 

Thanks for clarifying the shock length needs for both compressed and extended lengths. I'll definitely get the bilsteins when I upgrade to Dakar springs.

Crom- it's really helpful that you posted the pics of the springs stuffed and completely drooped, much appreciated!!

 

Ahh, adding Dakars to the ever-lengthening list of things i need to do to my truck!!!

 

They're all made by Deaver!

 

So I've heard.. false advertising when they say toytec and on the label it's deaver.

 

You may have a different bump stop, in which case I'm only talking about my truck



That spacer could be shorter, and I could get more up-travel. However, that would get my compressed length below 14".

As an aside, getting the bottom of the shock above or even with the axle, instead of hanging below it is another benefit.

You've probably got the best setup to get every bit of travel out of thr Dakar pack without welding.

 

so I have a pretty new set of 5100s installed in the rear. Can I install the dakar pack? I currently have a 1.5" aal back there and need more height since the front is 3". I don't haul much weight and i just need about another inch in the rear.

 

Stock length 5100s are too short for Dakars.

 

If you don't carry much weight you dont want a Dakar pack with all the leaves.

 

It's certainly not a requirement to do a shock tower relocate to use Dakars. Depending on you shocks it may be nice to do.

And you're 100% right, measure first

 

well shit. I'm leaning to get rid of the 885s and go with 884s on my prerunner. I can keep the aal and the 884 should drop the front enough to get some rake back. Three inches up front is borderline too high for me. Or I add more weight with a bumper

thanks for the info. About 60lbs daily and once a month camping trips.

 

Dakars are fine without extra weight. They are a little stiff, but unless your local roads are completely destroyed you'll have few complaints with the ride.

 

I'm in quite the pickle. If I go with dakars I also need new shocks. I think the 884 with 1.5 aal on my prerunner would be cheaper, better route. Thoughts?

 

Arcticelf,

Just to clarify, we are both running the same bump stops (Wheelers super bumps). I have no spacers installed back there. I think what you're calling a spacer might be my All-pro u-bolt flip plate.

And I want it known that I ran the OME shock for a whole year. When I switched it out for the Bilstein B110, I gained 3" of downtravel, with zero loss in uptravel. Just a thought.

And here is an interesting question for you... Why does Old man EMU sell shocks for their springs, that are too short to take advantage of all that the springs have to offer?

 

You're welcome. Here is the other side of my truck when I took the compressed pic.

The B110 shock gave me 3" more down travel, over the OME and zero loss of of uptravel.

Center hub to fender lip measurement on my truck is 31"

 

The spacer I'm referring to is the post under the rubber part of the bump, above the backer plate under the u-bolt.

WRT shock length: different design? Fox, Icon, King all differ slightly on compressed length (for the same extended) and your Bilsteins are shorter still, for the same extended length.

We're all stuck with the mounts Toyota gave us, and the geometry that dictates, combined with whatever design requirements the shock MFG needs to make the part. Going with a relocate (and I agree it's not a must have) gives you more options.

I'd like to have a shock with more travel than the spring is capable of, because the shock is more expensive than the spring. I don't want to use a shock as either a limit strap or bump stop. Also the shock is re-buildable, while the spring is a wear item.

There is also some debate about how useful that last few inches of droop really is, because the spring rate becomes non-linear as the leaf pack starts to separate.

 

How much weight to do take camping?