thrashlux wrote:when you guys say 12 inch is that compressed length ?
the boys in the usa seem to talk in extended length
so what is the main advantage of inverting the shock?
12" is the amount of travel the shock has.
From everything I've seen the boys in the 'USA' talk in travel that the shock has. ie. 12", or 14"
Quoting the extended length of a shock doesn't tell you how much travel it has as the compressed length can vary from manufacturer.
inverting the shocks will give you more travel at the wheel, for every inch the shock shaft moves.
Also another advantage of inverting the shocks is that when people invert them, they almost always change the way the shock mounts.
On most stock vehicles, if you undo the bottom shock bolt and try to move the shock, it will move back and forward (relative to the vehicle) very easily, but the only way to get it to move sideways is to fight against the bushing.
So when you invert the shocks you change the way the shocks mount by 90* so that the shock can move side to side instead of forward and back.
Have a look at Jason's rig or any other buggy and you will see the direction in which the shocks are mounted.
Hope thats easy enough to understand,
Luke.