66 CJ5 rear shocks

Hi,
I'm working on a restoration of my 66 CJ5, I replaced the 4 back shocks with new ones, then I was looking in the Kaiser Willys catalog at parts and notice "Back shocks for a CJ5 - two required", what??, mine has 4 on the back, two on each side. Does an original CJ5 have 2 or 4 shocked on the back? If the original had 2 shocks, why would the PO add extra??? Won't that make for a stiffer ride?? (V6 Dauntless engine) Thanks in advance for feedback.

 

More than likely the PO perhaps thought by adding another rear shock it may help calm the ride down? So how does it ride?

 

mine has the same shock studs on the frame (two of them) its a 69, but my spring plate only has one. I just run one shock per side, but have always wondered about that other stud on my frame.

 

Rearward facing second shock per side is definitely added by a PO. This is inspired by the Baja racers, which run multiple shocks per wheel. Does not do much for a recreational Jeep.

 

When a shock is angled at 45 degrees, you get twice the travel at half the damping. Two 45 degree shocks equal the same damping as one vertical shock.

The street-oriented style shocks that you have will have more of a 10/90 damping ratio (10% compression/90% rebound) and will only help the ride of the rear of your CJ, calming that common rear-end bounce. Their lack of compression damping will contribute very little to the harshness of your ride.

Swap them out for a more off-road oriented shock (Rancho, ProComp...), and you will feel it in your kidneys. These have more of a 50/50 compression/rebound ratio.

I say leave them.

Edit: I just realized you're doing a restoration. Ditch'em.

 

Thanks everyone for the information and advice. ITLKSEZ nice thinking on that 45 Deg shock issue, you must have been listening in your physics 101 class. I guess I will leave the shocks the way thy are sense they are already done, I can always take two off if the ride is too ruff. Now If I can get the clutch working the way it should