Bolt on Front Shock Towers

[just cruizin']

Hi Guys,

I'm chasing some info on bolt on front shock towers. I want to run longer shocks on my Sierra but want to keep the standard sort of look so rego etc isn't a problem. What vehicles run bolt on shock towers? I have heard of ppl using F truck ones but they are apparently a deleted item from Ford now and were big $$ anyway.

Can some ppl take some pics and measurements from me.

Thanks

Greg.

[RaginRover]

All rangies up to 1994 have them - should be able to find a set pretty cheap if you call a few rangie parts/wreckers

Tom

[Gwagensteve]

I wouldn't really recommend bolting a shock mount through the sierra chassis. Without the installation of crush sleeves etc it will collapse or hog the holes out. The chassis is only 2.5mm thick. The other way of bolting a mount to the chassis is to weld thick (approx 10mm) doubling plates on which are tapped for the mount you want.

Either way is going to look pretty "modified" In any case, stock sierra mounts are pressed and welded on so a bolted mount will look out of place immediately.

IMHO Police/roads authorities are interested in more radical/obvious problems than a ahock mount so long as it looks neat and well engineered.

Tell us more about your planned setup, we may be able to help more. Springs, bumpstop spacing, desired tyres etc.

Tom, I assume you were talking about RR rear mounts? these would be unsuitable I think as they dont rise high enough above the rail, also, the angle of the pin is a problem as sierra front shocks are almost vertical.

Steve.

[RaginRover]

Having re-read the original question I thought he was after a tower that bolted to the chassis like these ones



Are they what you are after ?

Tom

[just cruizin']

Thanks Steve,

I was intending to use a thickish spreader plate behind the chassis with crush tubes.

At the moment I've got 2" springs and standard shackles but was thinking about extended shackles. 2" BL so there's heaps of room to move towers up. I've got 31's with wide offest rims. Bumpstop is standard but may need spacing down to prevent tyres hitting the guards. RUF may be an option if I can get my brain around a method of making it reversable.

I know I can use VS commodore shocks but was wondering whether the standard mounts make full use of these or not. The standard towers seem quite low.

I intend to make most mods to this reversable if possible or at least look factory like. Bolt on towers from another vehicle will be obvious then shock hoops. That way I can part out the good bits when I sell or can change things back if Mr Plod requires.

Greg

[Gwagensteve]

If you still have front springs in the front, I don't think it is worth the effort. Leave the shock mounts where they are and as you add shackle length add 1/2 the additional shackle length to the bumpstop.

Right now you might be loosing about 1" of travel or so over what is in your springs. By working shackle length and bumpstop spacer, you might be able to size a shock to get nearly all the travel you have in your springs wothout cutting up your shock mounts.

We had a member in the club here who spent a fortune with a shop on longer shock mounts and shackles and ended up getting next to nothing out of it because the front springs had nothing more to give.

PS Tom, suzuki's have front shock mounts that are more like a hilux front. The rover ones you are showing there are designed to mount on top of a coil bucket. There's nowhere near enough room between the tyre and the chassis on a sierra to get anything that big in there!

Steve.