Rear Shock relocation thread

Wasn't an issue for me, and i was running 10" shocks. You could run a 12" but the stock leaf mounts limit the amount of droop you can cycle anyways. You won't get much use out of a 12" over a 10" on a first gen without running longer springs and different front mounts.

 

Did the pretty standard first gen relocation. ADS 2.5's with RR.

Shock relocation by Michael Halat, on Flickr
Shock relocation by Michael Halat, on Flickr
Shock relocation by Michael Halat, on Flickr
Shock relocation by Michael Halat, on Flickr
Shock relocation by Michael Halat, on Flickr
Shock relocation by Michael Halat, on Flickr

My biggest issue currently is the Dakar's with AAL do not support the weight in my bed when loaded for a trip. Going with custom leaves next and airbags in interim.

 

With the little time I had today I poked around some more.

I think the leaf spring clamps I had on there were binding things up. I pulled those off the other day too. The ride still seems stiff, but that might be the short 95-97 lead springs...





It’ll have to do for now.

 

I'd start by removing a shock, and measuring its fully compressed and extended lengths.
Then you can measure the shock tabs distance under the truck and double check that you have the tabs set correctly for the shock.
Do the shocks have a metal sleeve inside the rubber bushings?

 

Is that a broken leaf? Also, looks like

Is that a broken leaf? Also appears you have an AAL in there, not a full replacement pack. That would explain the stiff ride. Your leaf clamps wouldn't do that. The clamps just prevent excessive leaf separation at droop. A proper pack should have very little separation anyways.

 

Are you running the TC lower shock mounts?

 

Is the shock bottomed out in this pic?

 

No they were Ruff Stuff mounts.

Yeah it was. Why?

 

Looking at negative arch. I've not done a relocation on a 1st gen, but they seem to go negative in arch pretty early in the travel.

 

Yeah that's as negative as I was willing to let them go. I have yet to really hammer on this setup yet though because my front is lacking. I bumped it here:

Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr

Based on the theory that a superbump will go to half it's size under full load. I am less concerned about going negative as I was more concerned about my new shocks topping out and destroying themselves, vs negative arch. But based on current tests, I feel as though I am not using the full travel of the shock and have about 3/4" of travel I might not be using. It doesn't help that at ride height my leaves are not able to hold the truck up as much as it should either. I am in the process of gusseting everything up front so I can get some nice 2.5's in there. Once I do I can hook a camera up the the rear and really see whats going on. First step would be to shorten the bump stop mounts.

I also was thinking about going to an 11" shock and lowering the lower mounts a little more hanging down from the axle to get more travel as well.

 

Didn't you do the shock relocation on erice's 1st gen?

 

Haha. Yes, forgot all about that.

We didn't cycle his leafs though. Was also your kit though so the shock location was outside the frame. Doesn't change cycling numbers but not an equal comparison.

 

I will have these bump stop spacers available soon to bolt down to Ubolt flip plates, standard height will be 3"

 

If ADS makes parts for 11" travel I can convert what you have with a new body and shaft.

I will be converting my Icon 10's to 11's soon to go with @ARCHIVE 1st gen bump stops.

 

That would be awesome cause I wasnt sure if it was possible.

 

I tell my clients that all the time "I can do anything you want, it just takes time and money."

I am just hoping it costs less than buying new 11" shocks

 

It should be less but I don't know the actual cost of the parts from ADS or if they even make the parts to do it.

 

Anyone have a 2nd Gen set up with 2.5x12" shocks mounted forward of the axle like the BAMF or Archive and run tire chains? Wonder if there is a chance at all of that working.

 

You would need to look at tire clearance on level ground, and slightly articulated. Chains slamming into your shocks would not be awesome. But if you're not flexing offroad, you might be fine.