Outer Limits 4x4 Board

in regards to my last post, by asking which shock would "work with" a drop shackle, i was trying to find out a shock option that would handle the downward travel, whilst still having enough upwards travel to accommodate the way drop shackles work, i understand the need for new shock mounts, and im getting there slowly, i was just after a quick fix til the rest of my zook comes together

Answer's the same. The stock shock location will only take a 6" travel shock. If you want more travel than that, you need to change the mounts and/or space the bumpstops.

Small gains can be had (2" or so) but beyond that the shock will bottom before the bumpstop and carnage will result.

The only relelvant figure in choosing shock length is COMPRESSED length. That's the only one that will determine how much travel your suspension ends up with.

Steve.

Taff wrote:Digging this up with some more info....

81147 Back - Hiace / Hilux / ?????
81340 Front - VS Wagon rears
OME Light Duty Springs

The result:
Much nicer on and off road too imo.

Are these shocks enough for calmini 3" springs?

Take you're shocks out. Flex the car up till you hit the bumpstops. Then measure the distance from top shock mount to bottom shock mount when the spring is fully compressed and also when the spring is fully extended(do this both front and rear).

Then take these measurements into supercheap auto, look in the shock application books for the 81147 and 81340 shocks and make sure their compressed length is no longer than the compressed length you measured on you're car (otherwise the shock would bottom out before the spring does, not good).
Then also check the extended length is more than the extended length you measured (otherwise the shocks would fully extend before the spring does, also not good)

I stoopidly bought heavy duty OME shocks for the front of my zook. Mistakenly thinking it would be safer for towing my new camper.
What a dreadful mistake. Carp handling, rough as guts and
Can't afford to get another set of light duty ome's, so we are going to try the commo rears up front.
I already have largish bump stop spacers, and brakelines, altho stock, have had mounts adjusted to allow for the full droop of the springs. (stock OME shock is fully extended before full spring travel is reached)
I adjusted top mount to allow full droop.

Hopefuly I'll be happy with Commo shox, cos I aint at the moment.

Must note OME are not at fault here, I just wrongly wanted HD
(HD are for steel bullbar, winch etc zooks)
They are going cheap if anyone wants them.

Don't do it Chris.

Commodore shocks are stiffer than you think and will still be too long even with 2" bumpstop spacing.
They also have very thin bodies, very small diameter shafts etc - and IMHO they're not even that cheap - the cheapest set I bought from Bursons was about $130/pair so they're 1/2 the price of OME.


That's just from my experience - I can bottom mine and I don't think they'll last very well when used as a daily driver.

Steve.

I was hoping mine would soften with use and abuse, but I think they will be stiff for another 10years yet
Thanks for that, I do a lot of k's on and off road, so we do need good quality. Never thought about wall thickness, they do get knocked around.
Commo shox would have to be very cheap, otherwise I'll get OME agin.
Perhaps I should try for a trade in at OME for Light duties.
I got a long time out of my 1st set.

I dunno where you're getting your commo shocks from steve but I can get them for $30 each at the local super cheapy.

But Chris if you want some free, pre warn commo shocks just PM me

Bursons.

Steve.

GRPABT1 wrote:I dunno where you're getting your commo shocks from steve but I can get them for $30 each at the local super cheapy.

But Chris if you want some free, pre warn commo shocks just PM me

Thanks for the kind offer, but postage would suck.
I'd certainly give commo shox a go, if I found them cheap enough.
Cos if they break or wear out easily, then cheap enuff to re-buy.
Sure ain't paying $130 for them, cos I get a good discount at OME head quarters (About 5 minutes from me) so they gotta be cheap, or I'll just buy OME's.

Mine ran VS commodore shocks. Perhaps you could get a few sets from the wreckers from old commies and might come up with some alright ones that are pre warn but not completely stuffed?

GRPABT1 wrote:Mine ran VS commodore shocks. Perhaps you could get a few sets from the wreckers from old commies and might come up with some alright ones that are pre warn but not completely stuffed?

Yeah good idea.
Only a small outlay, find out if they are what I need, and already softened.
Can't do any real work yet, still recovering from me op.
But when I'm ready, I will fit the rears I have, and then try to match thier stiffness for the fronts.

cheers
christover

As I'm now OK to do small jobs on the zook, I decided to fit the rear shox I got from Lloyd (thanks Lloyd ). I have been running stock length zook rears (pedders maybe) for a while now. Very limitted in down travel, almost zilch.
Altho I do know front end affects the back end in such a small light car, I was very surprised by the improvement in the front shox, after fitting the proper length rear ones.
I still wish I'd fitted lighter duty shox to the front, but I am now happy enough to leave the heavy duty OME's in there.
Cool hey, sometimes you win, and learn stuff.

I'll next be adding extensions to the bumpstops on the rear, which I should have done yonks ago, as these shox are a tad longer than needed. Great droop tho, so very happy

christover

Got these for $33 for my fronts, and I am very happy.
Not from VS wagon rears, but from VK commodore wagon rear.
So maybe other models are same?
Nice ride, very happy.
Have used the OME nolathanes, but may go rubbers yet.
Droop is great, uses up entire drop of the front springs now, leaving brake lines with still enuff length, just.
As for bumpstops, I already have 20mm extensions, and that is almost enough.
I will put 30mm extensions on shortly, and it should be fine.

Nice stuff Chris, if you get a chance can you post up some lengths (if they differ from the normal VS style one anyway).

Layto....

lay80n wrote:Nice stuff Chris, if you get a chance can you post up some lengths (if they differ from the normal VS style one anyway).

Layto....

I couldn't see any difference between the lengths on all the commo wagon rears I saw.
Didn't see a VS wagon anywhere, so I just grabbed the best looking commo wagon rear shox I could find.
They are the length I expected.

My zook is special, and others needs may differ.

Being after market shox, may differ anyway from originals?

Will try to remember to measure them when I extend bumpstops.

Alocal good auto shop had VS rears in Monroes gas listed at $125 pair.

i have a set of vs ute stock shocks(i think should be same as wagon) an was wondering if they will go straight in. 85 hi top with 2 inch longer shackles. running 31x10.5s. will i get off without doing bumpstop extensions?
cheers

no.

waandy wrote:i have a set of vs ute stock shocks(i think should be same as wagon) an was wondering if they will go straight in. 85 hi top with 2 inch longer shackles. running 31x10.5s. will i get off without doing bumpstop extensions?
cheers

As Joe said, no.
I am adding 30mm to my front bump stops.
If shock bottoms out before bumpstop is reached, damage to shocker and/or shock mounts is likely.
With OME springs fitted, I needed bumpstop extensions to fit 31's anyhow.
If you fit them, cross it up, and measure gap to see how much you need to extend the bumpstops.

christover

If VS ute are the same as VS wagon, even 50mm isn't enough spacer.

Steve.

Gwagensteve wrote:If VS ute are the same as VS wagon, even 50mm isn't enough spacer.

Steve.

My zook must be special
I only need about 30mm bumpstop extension.
I'm going to give it 35 to be on safe side.

With my present 20mm extensions, the shock bottoms out as the rubber of the bumpstop hits.
I'm adding extra extension to allow for crush of the rubber.
This may turn out as more than 35mm needed, once tested in real life, of course

EXcept that you have VK commodore, yes?

Have you allowed 1" for articulation?

Steve.

Gwagensteve wrote:EXcept that you have VK commodore, yes?

Have you allowed 1" for articulation?

Steve.

Model source could easily be the difference.
And being after market shocks, they may not be the stock length for that model, either.
Not everyone fits correct shox to cars either
Shackle extensions could be the difference, too.

Not sure if axle position has an effect, but it sure could.
As travel could sure be changed by that.

I crossed it up pretty harshly in my favorite testing place.
(Not far from Joe's old Shop)
Shock was bottomed out, and other side was at full droop.

But all zooks are different.
And mine is special

People do need to do thier own measuring, and allow for differences between cars, and uses.

Not everything on OL is gospel

I do appreciate your opinions and expertise, tho, so please keep it up

If you're crossed up with the car parked and the shock is bottomed, you need 1" more bumpstop spacer. Just think about how hard the shock would bottom out if you accidently jumped the car or something. That's why the factory shocks are so short.

Steve.

Gwagensteve wrote:If you're crossed up with the car parked and the shock is bottomed, you need 1" more bumpstop spacer. Just think about how hard the shock would bottom out if you accidently jumped the car or something. That's why the factory shocks are so short.

Steve.

Yeah thats about what I'm thinking.
I like to build in a safety margin.
Bumpstop rubber was just squashed a tad with the 20mm spacer already there. When pushed, down, there was a bit more squash.
So maybe another 20 - 25mm would do.
Haven't done me sums proper yet, it got too dark n cold.
Future may be new shock mounts yet.

lay80n wrote:Nice stuff Chris, if you get a chance can you post up some lengths (if they differ from the normal VS style one anyway).

Layto....

From what I can work out from the Gabriel pdf...

stock Suzuki fronts - 81675 = 9.84in closed and 15.7in open

VS wagon rears - 81340 = doesn't give measurements other then 8.36in travel so I would imagine they would be about the same as the VK ones

ok i just spent a while going through my books at work cause we pretty quite.
the commodore shocks look the best for the front
monroe part number 15-3137 (517-307)
kyb part number 343007
stock is (415-256) for the front, just for comparing
i recon these would work best not with bigger bump stops but higher front shock mounts 5cm to be exact.

the rears are the hiace ones
monroe part number 15-0252 (510-310)
kyb part number 344100
sock is ( 282-450)

this is what im going to go for for now any ways.

I agree, I may reposition my mounts in future.
They may suit a rears up front too?
I lost up travel, but that was also true for the OME stocks.
But I've gained a bit of down, so that is fine.
With extended bumps I got room fer bigger meat

lexplay wrote: the commodore shocks look the best for the front

What model? i.e. VS or VK Wagon? (or are they the same shock)?

Pez