[MrBob]

Hello all

I need some quick shock help...

As previously stated I will be running these:

77 D44 with 77 coil towers
James Duff arms and 2* bushings ( gettting them used )
6" superflex coils
Superlift adjustable trac bar
F250 shock towers

Its a 1989 FSB currently running 6" BDS lift... I am keeping the 6" rear BDS springs, and BDS shocks...

I am looking for a good shock option to match the BDS shocks. I dont want something WAY stiffer or WAY softer... I cant find a shock on the BDS site for what I am looking for ( 12" ish travel )

I was looking at the James Duff site and they offer a 15" travel shock... how are these?? I really have no idea.... I have always heard really good things about JD...

Can anyone offer me good shock advise??

Sorry if this sounds like a nooby question, this will be my first SAS... I am SOOOO excited!!!

 

[zainyD]

My advice would be to get shocks after you've done everything else. Once you get everything assembled go flex your truck and take some measurements for front shocks. Then just buy whatever shocks match up closely with your measurements.

 

[Ogeechee 4x4]

i'd suggest the Rancho 5000. Part #5014. :thumbup

 

[Larston]

I've run Skyjacker Nitros for several years and love the ride. Even with the soft springs now, they'll handle washboard like it isn't even there.

 

[reptillikus]

I agree w/ larston, i have skyjacker nitros in the back of mine, and they ride very nice. Up front im running the 14" Cage shocks, and they work well with the 6" superflex springs, although the front end is still a little soft (probably more a coil thing than a shock thing, those things are crazy soft). Although, the only time its on the highway is when its on a trailer, so it might be fine cruisin around.

 

[bluesquirrel]

I bought skyjacker hydros....h7055...they were for an 8" lift I was doing for the TTB...never got to test them.

 

[woodydog]

My advice would be to get shocks after you've done everything else. Once you get everything assembled go flex your truck and take some measurements for front shocks. Then just buy whatever shocks match up closely with your measurements.

This is the best advice - measure the full flex short and long distance then select your shock -

A sas w 6" superflex cage or duff arms and cage shock hoops at just sitting the shock length is 28" - so go figure from there

Shocks with no adjustment
cage 14 travel 33 long and 19 short
James duff 15 travel 35.5 and 20.5
skyjacker H7068 14 travel 34 and 20.27
Shock with adjustment
Rancho 9000 I have been told they have a new 15 travel - I plan on colling them tomarrow to find out the long & short length - Rancho may be a nice option as these shocks are adjustable, so you can adjust for soft on trail and hard on street, this may be nice when having the soft superflex 6" front coils

no matter what you are told go find out the shock lengths extended and collapsed this along with your truck flex - now you will be able to calculate how much your shcok is limiting your travel

example Bluesquirrel's syjacker hydros h7055 for 8" lift ttb according to the skyjacker on line catelog shock specs - the expended length is stated at 22.75 and the collapded length is 13.54 - at full extintion they will not fit on a sas with 6" superflex

The 250 shock towers are ok but the shock hoops sure are easy and nice - look at Crazed or my sas thread for pics of the shock hoops

it is all about research (and some trial and error)

:thumbup

 

[godless]

ok, I can help out on this.
Rancho, Skyjacker, Pro Comp, etc. all made by Monroe. Period the end, no arguement there. You are basicly buying the same shock with a different name.
Hydro are typically a monotube shock with no rebound. typically used in lighter vehicles jeeps, s10, etc.
Nitro are typically twin tubed gas charged shocks that will have rebound in them, which is why they come tied up.
My experience working at 4wpw had shown that most people who use their rigs for wheeling AND daily driving will do this:
If you want quad shocks up front then run dual hydros
If you want singles, then run nitros.
Dual nitros will be too stiff, and a single hydro may be too soft.

Now this may be different for your taste, this is just my experience from many customers.

Now, if you want a real shock buy a Bilstein, Fox, Sway-a-way, or King.
Bilsteins are typically the easiest to work with and the most affordable.
If you want a great shock for not a lot of moolah get the Bilstein 5150's
You can have the valved specifically for the weight of your vehicle and they are only about $100.00 each.

If you have to have something adjustable then get the Pro Comp MX6's
Those are the exception to the Monroe rule. Those are manufactured by Edelbrock and are a really great shock.
I have been running them on my SAS'd vehicle for about 2 years. I love em.
I had rancho 9012's before and I replaced them because they went bad on me twice. The third time my boss just let me exchange them for the Pro Comp MX6 and have had no problems since.
Another thing about the mx6 shocks is that when you adjust them, you are adjusting compressions AND rebound. On the Ranchos you are only adjusting compression.
I dont work for 4wpw anymore, so dont think i am just trying to be a saleperson because I am not. 4wpw doesnt even sell Bilsteins so i guess I wouldnt pimp those if I was trying to help 4wpw.

This is just my professional and personal opinion based on experience.

 

[woodydog]

ok, I can help out on this.
Rancho, Skyjacker, Pro Comp, etc. all made by Monroe.

Now, if you want a real shock buy a Bilstein, Fox, Sway-a-way, or King.

If you have to have something adjustable then get the Pro Comp MX6's
Those are the exception to the Monroe rule. Those are manufactured by Edelbrock and are a really great shock.
I have been running them on my SAS'd vehicle for about 2 years. I love em.

This is just my professional and personal opinion based on experience.

hey sounds good but can you give some spec's - as I understand it the MX6's compress is 20.5 and extended is 32 - so 11.5" travel otherwise I would buy these - I am at 28/29 shock length just sitting still - any spec's on the "real shocks" I will go look some of them up - I am also looking for a set of shocks right now....

you know we need a shock sticky with shock name part number extended and compressed lengths...


:beer

 

[bluesquirrel]

example Bluesquirrel's syjacker hydros h7055 for 8" lift ttb according to the skyjacker on line catelog shock specs - the expended length is stated at 22.75 and the collapded length is 13.54 - at full extintion they will not fit on a sas with 6" superflex

Yep. I figured I'd run dual hydros up front and possibly dual hydros in back with superflex or deaver springs. You can lower and raise the upper shock mount to fit a shock in, but if you're building it from scratch set them up in a strong location and start measuring like woody says.
If beerman is right about all that stuff that should be made into a sticky. If its oppinion it should probably be deleted. Bad info made into fact is the worst. Sounds good though:beer

 

[woodydog]

ok, I can help out on this.

Now, if you want a real shock buy a Bilstein, Fox, Sway-a-way, or King.
Bilsteins are typically the easiest to work with and the most affordable.
If you want a great shock for not a lot of moolah get the Bilstein 5150's
You can have the valved specifically for the weight of your vehicle and they are only about $100.00 each.

This is just my professional and personal opinion based on experience.

Ouch,,,,, I just looked up King - $300 to 350 per shock,,, and that is for their "pre-runner" I would hate to even know how much their race shocks are......

I guess you get what you pay for ....

I never thought about it but Bluesquirrel is right - with proper prior planning you can build the upper and lower shock mount where you want them and make anything fit so the question may be how much travel do you want - I guess I built using cage parts so I now need a certain length - But I am happy I like alot of travel
:thumbup

 

[godless]

Its good info, but it doesnt need to be made into a sticky. Shocks are really simple. All it takes is a simple understanding of hydraulic functions.
If people do not know it, then go to your locl library and borrow a book called Vickers Mobile Hydraulics Manual.
I read it cover to back, and its great. If you get an understanding of hydraulics then you would be surprised what you will know.
Power steering, hydro steering, brake systems, shocks, bottle jacks, etc.
Their all one in the same, just different components and specifications.

You have to realize that the #1 product sold at 4wpw are shocks, and we got every question under the sun. The meetings and the trainings from the vendors were all very intuitive.

 

[godless]

YUP, thats why I leaned more toward Bilstein 5150's
You could get 7100's for a pretty reasonable price too.

 

[woodydog]

Its good info, but it doesnt need to be made into a sticky. Shocks are really simple. All it takes is a simple understanding of hydraulic functions.
If people do not know it, then go to your locl library and borrow a book called Vickers Mobile Hydraulics Manual.
I read it cover to back, and its great. If you get an understanding of hydraulics then you would be surprised what you will know.
Power steering, hydro steering, brake systems, shocks, bottle jacks, etc.
Their all one in the same, just different components and specifications.

You have to realize that the #1 product sold at 4wpw are shocks, and we got every question under the sun. The meetings and the trainings from the vendors were all very intuitive.

no, no, no,,,,,The sticky I was proposing was not about how they wor - but the various choices travel, full extention, compression, make model, now add price (ugly - not plug but shock price)

 

[godless]

Oh my bad.
I suppose you could post links to the various pdf files that said companies have listed, but I dont think Joe can list anything too specific without permission of said company.
I dont know the laws specifically, but a set of lnks wouldnt be a bad idear,

 

[godless]

Bilstein
http://www.bilstein.com/dl.php?PHPSESSID=275d353b6a52807ade9b7b60afae3387

Fox:
http://www.foxracingshox.com/fox_offroad/offroad_index.htm
or
http://www.foxracingshox.com/fox_tech_center/index.htm

Racerunner (Sway-a-way)
http://www.racerunnershocks.com/
(Its macromedia so hey dont have a specific url to go to)

King
http://www.kingshocks.com/technology.php
This link has extended and compressed lengths.

Hope that helps

 

[bluesquirrel]

King is too damn expensive, thats a useful set of links. I looked at fox and racerunner, but have no interest in kingshocks. For the money I think you'd do better with bilstien or fox. I had the rs5000's on my jeep, but they kept failing??????? Still don't know why. Kragen took them and exchanged them, but I just sold them on ebay and bought some monroes.

 

[crackhead]

Who makes Cage's? Monroe again?