Lets talk about shocks!

sapper1971 · 03-06-2005, 12:00 AM

OK. I dont know JACK about shocks. What happens if I put shocks that are a little bit longer than the stockers on there now? Does the truck sit higher? Will I have more suspension travel? Will it break something? Part two: What if I use the same sizeed shock, but slightly stiffer? Will it not "sink" as much under its own weight and therefore sit higher? Sorry for my ingnorance.....

chopper · 03-06-2005, 12:20 AM

Here is some shock info for you...
The shocks do not actually support the weight of the vehicle, therefore they will not
change the height of the truck.
The main purpose of a shock is to convert motion into heat,they dampen the ride and fight the bounce that the spring wants to give. But as for as suspention travel, I have heard that the rancho shock actually can bottom out before the full travel is met, therefore replacing the rear shocks may actually give you more travel! If you go with a high quality shock, like a bilstien, it will have better dampening characteristics, whish may give you a slightly firmer ride.

Hope that was some help!

Sir Chopps

sapper1971 · 03-06-2005, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chopper

Here is some shock info for you...
The shocks do not actually support the weight of the vehicle, therefore they will not
change the height of the truck.
The main purpose of a shock is to convert motion into heat,they dampen the ride and fight the bounce that the spring wants to give. But as for as suspention travel, I have heard that the rancho shock actually can bottom out before the full travel is met, therefore replacing the rear shocks may actually give you more travel! If you go with a high quality shock, like a bilstien, it will have better dampening characteristics, whish may give you a slightly firmer ride.

Hope that was some help!

Sir Chopps

Thank you sir! Is it resonable to say that a longer shock would give more travel as well? I dont even know what sizes shocks come in or how one determines the lenth needed for a particular application. Thanks again!

PrerunnerGreg · 03-07-2005, 06:55 AM

A longer shock doesnt mean it will have more travel. A lot depends on the body design and, like in the case of bilstien, if the shock uses an internal reservoir. most ranchos, or any other "twin tube" shock have a chamber around the body of the shock to act as the reservior, so they should be shorter for the same travel. But for instance, you have two shocks of the same design. If one shock has 8" of travel and the other has 10", the 10 shock will be 4" longer overall. therefore to keep from loosing 2" of upward travel (like on the rear of a truck) the upper mount would have to move up 2 more inches. You basically tring to keep the bottom of the shock body in the same place. man, if i only knew how to draw on this computer.

sapper1971 · 03-08-2005, 08:21 PM

LOL, thanks Prerunner

I think I am getting the picture. I've tinkerd with ATV shocks before and even Mt bike shocks. But never automotive shocks. I know with ATV shocks they have triple and I think even quadruple rate shocks that help soak up a wide varity of bumps and bump sizes. I kinda get the concept of coil overs too. Just not on an automobile, if its even different.