Topic: Long travel shocks install question

[84lockedtoy]

Hello

I am fairly new to offroading so I apologize if I am asking a simple question.
I tried searching but was unable to find much relevant info.

I am installing an allpro extreme lift kit with 6inch springs and 14inch bilstein shocks on my 84 truck.
For the front shocks how much of the shock should be compressed at ride height?

My first thought is 7inches, but I don't know if there would be any advantage to having more droop or more compression.

Also should the shocks be mounted straight up and down or should they be angled back or angled towards the front?

Thanks

[Shamb]

How much they drop will depend on how much your rig weighs. Typically you want more down travel then up. You want your tire to travel up as far as the fender will let it and the down travel has no limits. From my experiances if you tilt the shocks back a bit it'll give better articulation because its working in the same direction as the spring/shackle.

Hope that helps, Good luck.

[84lockedtoy [OP]]

Thanks

As soon as I get the front diff rebuilt I think I will flex the suspension and take some measurements.  That should give me a better idea.

[olemisstoy88]

On a side note too much flex (droop) can cause joints and other front end parts to bind. so watch out on that.

[MiniSimp]

On a side note too much flex (droop) can cause joints and other front end parts to bind. so watch out on that.

I disagree.

[notajeep]

I agree with your disagreement.

[79coyotefrg]

   dang thats alot of lift       at ride hieght  your shock needs to have as much, or more  room as you have up travel to your bumpstops

[whiteman]

I disagree.

I agree with your disagreement.

I agree with your two disagreements, but also disagree with your agreement to disagree. 

You see, it is possible for steering, and drivelines, to bind given enough droop, however, it would be almost impossable to get a leaf sprung vehicle to flex like that.  Impossable no, unlikley yes.

And with a linked suspension it is the same idea except you also have the links and hiems that can bind.  But that is why when we build a suspension of any type we build it so nothing binds, so the answer is yes and no

[TacoRunner]

I have the same lift that you are talking about. As long as you set you bump stops so that your springs dont go past flat on compression than you shoud have 5" of compression on the shock.