Rear shock mounting

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I'm in the process of installing my explorer 8.8 in the back of the ranger and I'm trying to think of the best way to mount the rear shocks. I don't want to mount them like they were stock hanging below the tube. The shocks I have right now are quite long (34" extended 14" travel) Procomp ES3000's. My thought are to run them from the top of the spring plate vertically into the box and have a shock tower, kinda like a coil over set up on a desert truck. Is there any disadvantage to having the shocks mounted vertically? I would think not as the front are mounted this way. This would also outboard the shocks quite a bit and would be more stable with less body roll right? Thoughts?

 

[CopyKat]

Pitch them both backwards about 10-15°, from vertical. Should be close to a 1:1

 

[95XL]

Ahh, excellent question. I have thought this same question. What is the purpose of having one shock facing forwards and one facing back, like the stock setup on the Ranger? I also need this info for my upcoming axle swap.

CopyKat, your saying mount both facing back towards the rear bumper at a 10-15º angle?

 

[gotmudd]

Pitch them both backwards about 10-15°, from vertical. Should be close to a 1:1

+1. i believe the purpose of having your shocks mounted off vertical is so that they can pivot as well as compress when going over bumps, at least that is what mine do when i put pressure on mine.

 

[JohnnyU]

Sounds like a plan, with the exception of mounting them to the spring plate. I'm not a big fan of doing this, as I think it puts too much force in the lateral direction on that bolted joint.

I see no issue with mounting them just inboard of the spring perches though.

 

[CopyKat]

Nothing wrong with mounting them to the top of the spring plate The shock forces are going down into the spring.

If he had a spring under and was mounting them to the lower spring plate then it would be an issue.

Yes From vertical, tipped back 10-15° is nearly a 1:1 ratio. Keeping them outboard of the frame will add alot of stability.

 

[JohnnyU]

If mounted vertical yes, I can see them being fine. From an assembly standpoint, I'd still inboard them a few inches. I have a tendency to take things apart frequently, whether it be the shocks or the leaf springs. I'd just hate to have everything bolted together in the same location.

I've seen people mount tracbars to a spring plate on sas leaf sprung fullsize trucks. That I have a problem with.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Not sure if they will mount to the spring plate or to the tube before the spring plate yet. So if i'm reading you right Joel I should triangulate them inwards to a 10-15* angle? That will be about perfect actually if i mount them to the spring plate.

 

[CopyKat]

The least amount of inward angle Just backward angle. The inward tip will help with articulation.

These are shock mounts not coilover mounts.

Eventually I'll be setting mine up similar. Just need to fine the time and I want to rework the rear leaf setup a bit more.

I say go for it.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Ahh, k. Picture is worth a thousand words. I'll have to get the weight back on it and figure out where the upper mount will end up. Thanks Joel!

Just finished setting up the gears in the splder 8.8 and installing the detroit, should go back under tomorrow and start fabbing shock mounts and an anti wrap bar.

 

[CopyKat]

Here is another 1000.

Same truck

 

[CopyKat]

Make that 2000

 

[mjonesjr]

I might have to mount my shocks on the outboard side of the frame when I put in the Explorer axle. I want to simplify my shock setup. Who knows I might make a custom mount and have them both come off the front like the '70s F-150's.


Hey Joel, can you post up some full pictures of that BII?

 

[CopyKat]

Or??

 

[mjonesjr]

How does that work?