Topic: SHOCK QUESTION

[toy85ota]

Hey Guys I just bought 7 inch leaf springs for my 85, I have a superlift 3 inch lift on right now, and I was wondering will the superlift shocks that came with the 3 inch lift work lift a 7 inch lift or are they to short.  The shocks for superlift 3 inch kits and 7 inch kits might be the same, but I dont know. What Do you guys think?

[jimbo74]

highly doubt they will work... they might work but will be extended at ride height... i lifted my truck 3" in the rear via aal and shackles..... the 4" lifted shocks i got basically are crap, they are for trucks lifted 0-4" however they are pretty much extended at ride height... i have no rear travel becasue of them

[CTENG in KS]

not gonna be long enough...what you need 7 inch lift for...?

[Rocksurfer]

Look at the shocks with the old lift and see how much of the shock travel is left or used. If you have used over 25% of the shocks travel I'd say you are going to end up a little short. If they do fit and you have used about 75% of the travel you could end up ripping the shocks off the frame if you do anything other than speed bumps at the mall.

[toy85ota [OP]]

SO what shocks would you guys recommend, nothing Nitrogen, I on a really tight budget.  Just something that will get the job done?

[Rocksurfer]

Rancho's or Procomp's cheapys would do the job. A little stiff since they are not adjustable but at over $100.00 a shock for 9000s and more for bilstiens and the like I'd go for some Rancho 5000's....... do they even make those anymore?

[toy85ota [OP]]

hahaha, Ya they have been around awhile havn't they?

[jimbo74]

cycle your suspension and buy soem ranchos in the right size you need

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/Rancho.shtml

[toynizzy]

u can get 5125 for like 75 a piece and there great shocks.i would invest a bit in ur shocks and when and if u change to better springs u will already have good shocks,better to have more travel than u need than not enough i think.going from 3" to 7" is like going from 33's to 40's lol,gonna need longer and better shocks,but a friend of mine had a 7" superlift and it didnt flex at all,it was like my old chevy with 8"springs lol big but wear ur kidney belt when off road.

[jimbo74]

it depends on what springs you got too...  some are flexy soem are stiff

[toy85ota [OP]]

ya their superlift softride springs in front and some a used pair of ranchos 6 inch in the rear.

[toy85ota [OP]]

so what a good long travel shock, I dont think rancho 5000's are long travel! I dont want to spend an arm and a leg for them.

[sandboxtoy]

ranchos longest shock is a 5012 or 9012, the 5000 or 9000 series.
it has a 13.5" stroke, which if placed correctly on the axle tube will allow for plenty of flex. mount the shock near the center of the stroke for up and down travel.
total extended length of the shock including the body is 34", thats almost 3 feet of shock under your rig, remember when calculating not to allow the springs to flex in a negative arch, it will breakdown your springs (use bumpstops)