Stortest 12" travel shock-eye to eye

[Bray D]

No I haven't searched. I'm lazy.

Thinkin of lowering the back of my truck 1-2 inches to level it back out. I've got rancho 9000's on it now, they're too long with the adjustable valving and such. I just want a cheap, short, 12" travel shock to slap on the rear so I can lower it without having to relocate my lower shock mounts.

 

[86 slo-vo]

lazy ass

ive got some polyperformance BBCS in the 15 inch flavor waiting to go on mine, from the reviews they are great. they have them in 12" i believe but they arent what id call cheep.

 

[Bray D]

I got un-lazy. Started a spreadsheet. I'll post up what I find. I guess a better question would be what are some recommended brands? I've got rancho's on it now. priced out some Bilsteins and they're not too terrible (5100 flavor).

 

[Bray D]

OH, and what I would consider a 'good' shock is one that has little damping. My frontend is like floating on a cloud, then my rearend is like a jackhammer.

 

[wahlstrom1]

Goodluck.... I'll be putting my upper shock mounts around the top of the bedsides. I ran out of travel under the bed, not enough droop and not enough up-travel.

 

[NMB2]

bilstein 5100's are garbage. dont waste your time.

 

[3.0ranger1227]

I believe the SAWs are the shortest of the rebuildable/revalvable shocks. Cheaper than King or Fox but not cheap like a rancho or a 5100

 

[Bray D]

Goodluck.... I'll be putting my upper shock mounts around the top of the bedsides. I ran out of travel under the bed, not enough droop and not enough up-travel.

That's what I'm trying to avoid. I never have taken my shocks off and twisted it up to get measurements. I'll definitely have to do that before I buy anything.

bilstein 5100's are garbage. dont waste your time.

What makes them bad? A 'good' shock in my book would be one that has a damping rate that matches the weight of the vehicle and the spring rate of the suspension. I'm not going to go through the analysis necessary to find the rate I need, so I'll just go a little soft and live with some oscillation.

I guess I honestly don't know if its over damped as it sits. A quick jump on the rear bumper would tell me that though. If it IS over damped, then a lighter shock should soften the ride up a bit. If its under damped already, my springs are too stiff and I'm fawked.

regardless of the quality of the shock, I ultimately want a shorter one so I can lower my ride height and keep the same mounting positions. My rs9k's are long as shit.

 

[NMB2]

best budget shocks available are rancho 9000's. Just get the proper length rancho you need and turn the dial down.

Bilstein 5100's have weak bodies, and the eye's have been known to break off (mine did).

 

[legoms013]

bilstein 5100's are garbage. dont waste your time.

You must be doing some serious wheeling if you have broke yours! I on the other hand I am just a mall crawler, and they work/ride awesome. Those few times I actually get out wheeling, they are worth their weight in gold.

I have four on my truck and love them they ride way better to me than my old ranchos did.

Bray D, you can get Bilsteins in a 170/60 light valving (which is what I have on the front and with 415 PPI skyjacker TTB springs, the front of my truck rides on a cloud and constantly bobs up and down. yet they firm up a little for real rough terrain accessed at high speeds). These are what I recomend for you/anybody who is/are after the softer, floaty feel of not quite enough dampening going on.

 

[Bray D]

best budget shocks available are rancho 9000's. Just get the proper length rancho you need and turn the dial down.

That's exactly what I have now. They're still stiff (I think, haven't done the 'bounce check' yet).

My rs9k's are long as shit.

Bilstein 5100's have weak bodies, and the eye's have been known to break off (mine did).

Was this pre or post limit straps? Or are you talking about smoking them on rocks?

 

[NMB2]

You must be doing some serious wheeling if you have broke yours!

Duh, where have you been?

That's exactly what I have now. They're still stiff (I think, haven't done the 'bounce check' yet).

Was this pre or post limit straps? Or are you talking about smoking them on rocks?

I can read shit head, I know you have R9K's. I was telling you to get a shorter one. I can already tell you, your shocks are not your problem. Your rear springs are what is causing your complaint. You dont want your truck floating around, that defeats the purpose of a shock absorber.

Oh and it was post limit strap:

they have very small shafts, and a weak connection point.

these are not a hardcore bilstein shock by any means, more of a novelty item perhaps.

 

[Bray D]

I can read shit head

I'll kill you.

I created this thread prematurely obviously. I need to do some more research to find out what I need. I've got the chevy 63's out back, and everyone claims them to articulate better than the stock springs which would imply they are softer. Hard to believe as they were originally under a 1/2 ton truck.

I'll have to flex it out without shocks to see if I can get away with a shorter shock. Its a good possibility, especially since the rear shocks are angled.

 

[NMB2]

I'll kill you.

I created this thread prematurely obviously. I need to do some more research to find out what I need. I've got the chevy 63's out back, and everyone claims them to articulate better than the stock springs which would imply they are softer. Hard to believe as they were originally under a 1/2 ton truck.

I'll have to flex it out without shocks to see if I can get away with a shorter shock. Its a good possibility, especially since the rear shocks are angled.

assuming they flex better because they are softer, is your first mistake.

chevy 64's are pretty stiff.

 

[Bray D]

assuming they flex better because they are softer, is your first mistake.

chevy 64's are pretty stiff.

Alright doucher, why is it then? The mounting location is the same so you're not gaining any mechanical leverage.

Do leaf springs have a linear spring rate? (ie. - not progressive)