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Thinking Shock length with ford shock towers

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by piffey263, May 25, 2014.

  1. May 25, 2014
    piffey263

    piffey263 Active Member

    Medford, OR
    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2008
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    1,214
    Alright guys sorry for the beat the jeep with dead horse topic...


    I want to pick up shocks here while I am in town, before I head back up north to work on the jeep. (trying to avoid shipping for shocks.)


    my jeep has unknown 2-2.5 lift, I took out the bottom most spring so the jeep rides better. However, who knew you get bad death wobble when you have no front shocks.

    I am wondering if I can just pick up some 10 inch travel skyjacker/procomp shocks and then weld the ford shock mount to the appropriate height? I would like to run holbrook later down the line, but won't be for a few years. I also don't want to run anything longer than a 12 inch shock. I am thinking if I choose a 10 inch shock that would be about right, that way I wouldn't have to re-weld the mount later down the line if I switched lifts.

    I know in a perfect world I should get leaf spring compressed all the way and extended all the way before I decide on shocks. I am just looking for some shocks to keep the front end of the jeep bouncing too much when I am going over rural roads.

    The best measurement I got is a static measurement from the lower shock mount on the dana 30 to the top of the frame rail which is 14" 5/8, I know the frame rails are less than 4 inches tall.


    anybody got any opinions/suggestions on this? just want to run it by you guys before I go out and pull the trigger and make it work.
     
  2. May 25, 2014
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2012
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    3,784

    First off with a 2-2.5 inch lift you really don't need a Ford Truck extended mount...........and with Holbrooks which are only a 3 inch lift the same holds true.......Holbrook ships this shock with there springs: Gabriel #81318 which has a 22.73 " extended 13.87 collapsed and 8.86 " of stroke.........basically a pretty basic gas shock that does a real good job. Gary @ Holbrook just does not like to over-shock the application simply from the standpoint a rigid shock effects the ride to much and I would agree with that posture.........You can get pretty carried away with shocks but for right now these will not hurt your bank book @ $12.00 to $20.00 bucks a piece on line.
     
  3. May 25, 2014
    piffey263

    piffey263 Active Member

    Medford, OR
    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2008
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    1,214
    Thanks Tarry,
    That is the type of answer I was looking for.

    I needed new shock mounts due to dana 30 swap, the ford mounts seemed like it would fit the bill perfectly.


    The Gabriel shocks sound better than spending 40-50$ per shock right now.

    I would love to get carried away with the shocks but vehicle isn't even close to that and my pocket book wouldn't like it either.
     
  4. May 25, 2014
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2003
    Messages:
    23,596
    The collapsed length is the limiting distance. I would measure the distance between the pins after the new towers are installed. Subtract from that the distance between the axle and collapsed frame bumper, and this is your maximum collapsed length.
     
  5. May 25, 2014
    cj6/442

    cj6/442 Sponsor

    Fallbrook, Calif
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    Feb 6, 2008
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  6. May 25, 2014
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    Oct 29, 2012
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    The D-30 and the D-27 both mount from a stud on the spring plate on the bottom on a 30 there may be two posts one for a sway bar and the other for a shock........in either case should be the same distance........There is limited compression up travel in an early CJ without getting into cutting fenders and inside fender panels.........most adjust the bump stops to limit the up travel to keep the tires away from the sheet metal.....so your really only left with droop.........or the amount the axle will hang.
    Some folks like Steve 442 use a YJ spring that has more travel and flexibility that do require a longer stroke............measure the distances and see what ya get.
     
  7. May 26, 2014
    piffey263

    piffey263 Active Member

    Medford, OR
    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2008
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    tarry, I am using a dana 30 spring plate from a 74, so I don't have the sway bar mount on the spring plate, I know I could weld the bolt on the front of spring plate but from the quick check I did a while back with a rancho shock body that I had it looked like it would bind.

    I will measure the distance when I head up to the jeep on the 1st. Knowing that autozone, can obtain that shock in that size will allow me look at other common shocks. I didn't know they made shocks that long in common application, I assumed that if it was longer it would most likely be for a full size truck. That particular one that is used in your lift, shows it being used for similar sized cars but slightly heavier than a cj5.

    Steve:I have seen the pictures, I can see you use every inch. I got that link of the install bookmarked a while back, nice and easy to follow.
     
  8. May 27, 2014
    AKCJ

    AKCJ Active Member

    Fairbanks, Alaska
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    Aug 12, 2003
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    1,035
    Great info guys - this is helpful for me.

    FWIW I reused the plates off of my dana 27 when I put in the dana 30. The shocks fit but just barely.
     
  9. May 27, 2014
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2012
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    3,784

    Piffey,

    First go through the motions & measurements under compression ( get a few of your buddies to stand on the front bumper till the axle gets near the bump stops or the tires hits the sheet metal ) and droop ( jack it up and let it hang) and measure what you have or need........
    Easy to abandon that old forward stock shock mount and buy a Similar mount for the 1980s CJ that mounts to the rear on the frame several inches back from where yours is now. You will have to trim your sheet metal a little on the inside fender panel........... then either find a spring plate from the eighty's with both mounts fore and aft or weld tabs on the back side of the axle and attache your bottom shock mount there.......this tucks the shock in behind the axle where it can't get hit...............pretty easy.
    Note: J&W Jeep Wreckers over in Antelope (Roseville area off of Hiway 80 ) has a large wooden box about 4 ft square full of spring plates and even some various skid plates. Bring your tape measure if you go!
     
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