Stock length leafs limiting 12'' shock travel

I'm coming here to ask opinions on what would be the easiest/cheapest way to get more downtravel out of some stock length ARB Dakar Leaf Springs. I'm on stock length shackles as well with some poly bushings. The leafs gave me about a 2" lift for reference. Installed a @ARCHIVE outboard relocation kit with a 12" king 2.5 shock. I installed the lower shock towers at a higher angle on the axle to leave room for bigger tires at bump before needing to trim too much. Long story short, where it stands now im only getting about 8" of downtravel at full leaf extension from the 12" shock and im looking for the best way to get at least 3 more inches before full extension, or more, im fine with using limit straps. Ive considered going deaver or chevy but doesn't seem worth the time and money for a few more inches. Please give some ideas, thx.

 

When you say 8" of down travel, are you talking about shock or wheel travel? Both seem hard to believe if you're measuring from ride height.

When you mention deavers, are you talking about stock length deavers? (i.e. the same length as your current arb ones) If so, those won't give any more flex than your current setup.

The Chevy 63 is the cheapest option possible since you can find majority of the parts for super cheap and pick n pulls. Only thing is the fab work is extensive if you have no experience.

 

The way I read his post is he is getting about 8" of shock shaft exposed as opposed to the full 12" available.

 

63s are stupid cheap. You can get the springs from a junkyard and a kit to hang them for less than half the price of those bling shocks.

 

I mean at full droop i'm only getting 8" from my shock stanchion.

 

It sounds like the shock mount position had a limiting effect. I run 10" travel shocks in the stock locations with Dakar leaf packs, stock length shackles, and can use all 10" of shock travel. (Determined in a state of articulation, not just hanging the rear axle.)

You'll probably have to use a longer shackle or leaf packs with a greater range of travel.

 

You installed the axle tabs high so you're skewing the numbers. Most aftermarket packs use all 12" of travel. Hundreds of our customers over the years have used OMEs and there was no issue getting 12" travel. They could have made changes though. If you are trying to measure droop with your tires/wheels off the axle, that's a mistake because that's not real-world when you're driving. Wheels and Tires weigh about 200 lbs easy, more than the axle weighs, probably only 150lbs. You might need poly bushings in the shackle etc

 

Maybe I just grind off the lower shock tabs and cycle about the 12'' of shock and just reweld lower on the axle. Or ill just keep it and do the 63 swap.

 

You don't need 63s to use 12" travel.