Shock position on A Frame rear end

[Pesky Pete]

Okay so I have the A Frame tacked into place and am fairly happy with how it all sits. I am yet to put to top mounts for the coils in, but will put them flush with the top of the chassis so I will loose about 3 inches of height over where it sits now ( a good thing).

Anyway, I was interested on peoples opinions on shock mount positions. I was thinking of putting in lower mounts where the shocks sit in the pic. Some people are telling me to move the tops closer, and the bottoms out. Anyway, whats your thoughts.

Pete

[NICK]

if you mount the coils flush with the top of the chassis this will compress the shocks more, i think i would be leaning them over.

what type of coils are they? what rates and how much lift?


NICK

[Pesky Pete]

They are Rangie rears. Soft rate and 4" lift. By going to the top of the chassis I was hoping to also get loads of controlled travel out of the coils. I also expected the coils to compress a bit more than they did, but I havent got the tray or cage on yet so they will probably settle a bit more yet.

[POS]

Pete!

Shocks should run as close to Vertical as possible!!!! (that is how they are designed to work and that is when you get most effect from the shock)

The only reason why people angle the top in, is for the Wank factor.

If the shocks are going to restrict the wheel travel, than angle them in slightly, BUT only angle them in the absulute minimum amount that you can get away with!

[Aza]

do the tyres hit the chassis while flexing?

[Pesky Pete]

Aza
They are going to hit, and I will get hold of some wheel spacers some time soon.


Adrian
Was trying to avoid a hoop but I think I might be better to put in a hoop for the shocks. to get more travel. In a real rush now for Q Rock so I cant afford to make too many mistakes and have to re do shiat

[killalux]

hey pete, i got a pair of 3" spacers ya can have for $200, only been used a few times, i used them with my 35" claws ant the tyres just cleared the chassis using standard rear diff.
and i mite be down that way sunday, will have to see.

[Pesky Pete]

Saw the spacers in the for sale. Working on another plan at the moment, will need to see how it all works outs. Looks fairly close, but I have about 2" of clearance at the moment. So It will rub, but not sure how much. I'll keep your spacers in Mind. Dont want to swap em for a 4 speed and transfer do ya.

Cheers

Pete

[killalux]

Saw the spacers in the for sale. Working on another plan at the moment, will need to see how it all works outs. Looks fairly close, but I have about 2" of clearance at the moment. So It will rub, but not sure how much. I'll keep your spacers in Mind. Dont want to swap em for a 4 speed and transfer do ya.

Cheers

Pete

na not really, i need cash at the moment not a transfer case

[Aza]

2 inch clearance at the front???

have u put the suspension in the front to give it the lift??

[Pesky Pete]

Aza

Still standard leafs up front. Rears are going up front. Going to build a custom pack from the front and rears. I don't really want height, so the rears in the front will be more about diff forward than anything else

[Pesky Pete]

Saw the spacers in the for sale. Working on another plan at the moment, will need to see how it all works outs. Looks fairly close, but I have about 2" of clearance at the moment. So It will rub, but not sure how much. I'll keep your spacers in Mind. Dont want to swap em for a 4 speed and transfer do ya.

Cheers

Pete

na not really, i need cash at the moment not a transfer case

I know what you mean. If It works out that way I'll drop you a PM for your spacers.

[killalux]

yeah to easy man, hey i will swap em for ya tyres

[Surfection]

Anyway, I was interested on peoples opinions on shock mount positions. I was thinking of putting in lower mounts where the shocks sit in the pic. Some people are telling me to move the tops closer, and the bottoms out. Anyway, whats your thoughts.
Pete

Why not make a small bracket that comes off the bottom of your lower arms, probably off the end tube where your bush is, so you don't create a weak point by welding to your actual arm. It's fine that you're chasing good flex, but you need mucho stability to go with it. Having the shocks so close together as they are now is not the way to get that. On the surf i had my shocks angled in to the max, as i wanted the most travel i could get out of 9012s... i regretted it.
So if it were me i'd mount the shock on the end piece of your lower arms, and have the upper shock eye mounted to a bracket coming out from the inside of your chassis rails, they will be angled in a bit this way but i think cause they are outboarded so far it will compensate. If this was going to have them extended too much at rest you could run them angled slightly forwards and mount them to the bottom of your chassis rails in front of the diff. Picture the red lines [the shock] in front of the spring.
HTH, Jeremy

Edit: You will definatly need to run limiting straps to the diff housing with this setup, it would be alot to ask of the control arms/mounts/bolts whereas with them off the diff housing as per your original pic, you could get away without straps [but sacrifice shock life] blah blah etc etc

[Pesky Pete]

Thanks for all the input guys. Just had a nother look and I am planning on going to the front side of the housing and putting in a small tower on top of the crossmember. Shock position should be something like the pic below.

[bubs]

Thanks for all the input guys. Just had a nother look and I am planning on going to the front side of the housing and putting in a small tower on top of the crossmember. Shock position should be something like the pic below.

only problem with mounting on the front is the shock is more vonerable sp? to damage

[beebee]

Thanks for all the input guys. Just had a nother look and I am planning on going to the front side of the housing and putting in a small tower on top of the crossmember. Shock position should be something like the pic below.

only problem with mounting on the front is the shock is more vonerable sp? to damage

I think that Bubs suggestion is entirely correct. I have damaged 2 shocks with them mounted on the top of the housing but I'm sure they'd be worse if they were mounted to the front.

[Pesky Pete]

Okay guys, Back of the housing then, I'll just move around the brake lines etc that sit in the wrong spots and get the shocks out toward the spring mounts.

RUFF, your shocks appear to be fairly close to the centre. How would ou rate stability with your shocks mounted where they are.




Pete

[RUFF]

My shocks are almost vertical and are as far out as i could go without them fouling on the frame at full flex.



How much vertical seperation have you got at each end of your links?

[dave]

I agree keep them vertical

[Pesky Pete]

Tony
I would have to double check it but I think it is about 230 or 240 seperation at each end. Maybe a mm or two difference from front to rear, but it is very close.

Cheers

Pete

[ORSM45]

hey ruff, wouldnt the way your shock mounts at the bottom (direction of the eye on the shock) twist your mount? wouldnt turning the mount 90degrees loosen up the bind? as the axle and shock dont stay 90degrees from each other at full flex.

MaccA

[RUFF]

hey ruff, wouldnt the way your shock mounts at the bottom (direction of the eye on the shock) twist your mount? wouldnt turning the mount 90degrees loosen up the bind? as the axle and shock dont stay 90degrees from each other at full flex.

MaccA

YES i just didnt do it that way. The rubber is coping it so far i will deal with it later.

[ORSM45]

ah k. would you expect a few more inches out of it if you did do it the other way. or is it pretty much maxed out as it is.

MaccA

[ToNkA]

Pete!

The only reason why people angle the top in, is for the Wank factor.

If the shocks are going to restrict the wheel travel, than angle them in slightly, BUT only angle them in the absulute minimum amount that you can get away with!

Then there are a lot of wankers!

Seriously though. My shocks are in the standard position so I ask:

Why are they mounted inwards. So many comp trucks not just toyotas and just modded 4x4's have the / \ shock set up. Are you saying there is no need with coils or at all? As most spring leave set ups seem to have the / \ set up.

Can somone explain for me.

[cbr]

Pete!

The only reason why people angle the top in, is for the Wank factor.

If the shocks are going to restrict the wheel travel, than angle them in slightly, BUT only angle them in the absulute minimum amount that you can get away with!

Then there are a lot of wankers!

Seriously though. My shocks are in the standard position so I ask:

Why are they mounted inwards. So many comp trucks not just toyotas and just modded 4x4's have the / \ shock set up. Are you saying there is no need with coils or at all? As most spring leave set ups seem to have the / \ set up.

Can somone explain for me.

I think alot of people have them angled because of space issues. Mine are angled because I have a 4runner and don't want to cut into the floor.

Chris.

[beebee]

Pete!

The only reason why people angle the top in, is for the Wank factor.

If the shocks are going to restrict the wheel travel, than angle them in slightly, BUT only angle them in the absulute minimum amount that you can get away with!

Then there are a lot of wankers!

Seriously though. My shocks are in the standard position so I ask:

Why are they mounted inwards. So many comp trucks not just toyotas and just modded 4x4's have the / \ shock set up. Are you saying there is no need with coils or at all? As most spring leave set ups seem to have the / \ set up.

Can somone explain for me.

It enables you to get a long shock in a tight space which allows more flex. For a given axle rotation, an inward mounted shock will travel less distance than a vertical shock. Thus allowing the increased travel. Too angled and they might as well not be there.