How do i determine what size shocks i need for lifted ranger?


atvkid4eva

atvkid4eva

15+ Year Member

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Sep 27, 2008
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Twinsburg, OH
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1988
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Manual
alright guys as some of you may know ive been working on a project 88' ranger that i bought..came with what the owner said was an 8" lift..the guy took some shortcuts as usual and instead of buying extended rear shocks he just moved the mounting stud so he could use his shorter shocks:icon_confused:..well anyway the shocks on there measured 28" eye to eye fully depressed and are a couple inches to short to mount at the frame..how do i measure to find the right length shock i will need? do i measure mount to mount and then add some or what? or is there a standard length people used for these length lifts? thanks -Bobby
 
Did you mean they're 28" fully extended? (sounds about a 3-4" lift shock if so)

One common way is to get whatever length shocks that will put the shock at exactly mid-travel with the suspension at static ride height.

Another (probably better) way might be to pick the rear end off the ground so the suspension is at full droop (hanging), then measure the distance between the mounts and match up the shocks to that.

I suspect you'll be needing a shock somewhere between 30-34" fully extended.
 
hope this helps. I have an 84 ranger, 2 add a leafs, 3" block in the rear, 8" of lift, my shocks are 36" extended and a bit 2 long but id reccommend a few inches shorter like already stated, 34" would be fine.
 
after you find out what your length for shocks is, check on Foxracing(sway a way, king, bilstein) site for the application charts. they will show the lengths of extended and collapsed shock and what size you need.

its pointless to buy a crap set of Ranchos or Skyjacker shocks and and have to replace them in a year or two. instead, spend the extra dollar on the rebuildable shocks so you can keep them for as long as the truck last.
 
make sure you take some measurements before you buy shocks. The 4" shocks in my old RC kit were a few inches 2 short limiting full droop.
 
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