angleing rear shocks twards rear?

[85broncduece]

ok I have a b2 and some 14in fox shocks im trying to keep the tumble n fold bench. I was ondering how it would effect handleing and ride? The main reason i ask is ive only seen the "long travel" shocks angled forward. I want to mount them on the top of my spring plate to a rear hoop at about a 70 degree angle rearward. Think it will work?

 

[93 4x4]

shock angle

I have mine setup like that haven't noticed any ride our handling problems.

 

[85broncduece]

yeah i did't think it would make nuch of a differance since the drivers side is running rearward thanks, and your truck looks good

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

As shown on 93 4x4s truck, the angle won't be a problem. I just pulled a '97 f-150 rear that has the same angle from the rear. the only problem I foresee is the gas tank and the frame tweak that isn't on the passenger side behind the axle. But maybe that's a ranger only thing.

Richard

 

[Snoranger]

Mounting a shock at anything other then 90° to level will reduce it effectiveness.

Mounting them at a 70° angle will make them only 88% effective.

 

[93 4x4]

I would have thought the same way but when the suspension articulates downward the rear actually moves slightly to the back and opposite for up so 90 degrees would never stay true and as Alwaysfloored stated f150's come from the factory like that I would think if they do it, it would be ok.

 

[Snoranger]

I never said you cant or shouldnt mount them at an angle, almost every vehicle on the road has the shock mounted at some kind of angle. You do however have to take the angle into account when selecting the shock rate you want. The angle will change your effective shock rate.

The slight change in angle when the suspension moves will only effect the shock rate by a few percent, so that really wont make much of a difference.

 

[85broncduece]

yeah to clear my back seat it would need to be arround 20 deg. my plan is to come off the top of the sping plate on the out side of my frame so tank and crossmembers arent an issue. so valving will most likley need to be changed after their mounted?

 

[Snoranger]

yeah to clear my back seat it would need to be arround 20 deg. my plan is to come off the top of the sping plate on the out side of my frame so tank and crossmembers arent an issue. so valving will most likley need to be changed after their mounted?

A 12% loss isnt that much, so maybe not.

 

[Mac]

Ford trucks have been angled since at least 1950. Having them vertical would probably make them have to be stiff due to the short room to dampen (?). Look at MX bikes, in the early 70's the shocks were almost vertical but by 1980, were at almost a 45 deg angle. Same dampening but gained a lot of travel by moving them. In 1969 ford went to the stagered shocks on their Cobra Jets to help avoiding axel wrap. Lots went into the suspension design.
Dave

 

[Snoranger]

Ford trucks have been angled since at least 1950. Having them vertical would probably make them have to be stiff due to the short room to dampen (?). Look at MX bikes, in the early 70's the shocks were almost vertical but by 1980, were at almost a 45 deg angle. Same dampening but gained a lot of travel by moving them. In 1969 ford went to the stagered shocks on their Cobra Jets to help avoiding axel wrap. Lots went into the suspension design.
Dave

Its really just a matter of room and travel. You can mount them at any angle you want or need to for the travel you want, but you have to compensate for the loss of effective dampening with a stiffer shock.
A shock mounted at a 45° is only 50% effective. You would need a shock twice as stiff as a shock mounted at 90° to get the same effect.

 

[85broncduece]

Thanks every one, shes goin under the knife tomarow.Ill make sure I get pics up after Im done.