Shock position question

[dweinberg01]

I'm having the problem of my shocks bottoming out because my springs are so soft. If I were to change the angle from up and down to /\ would that stop them from bottoming out? I have 7" of shaft showing at ride height.  Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.  Thanks.

[junya92toy]

You need to measure, compressed, extended, and then you need to find the correct shock.

[bleakhorizon]

the more you angle your shocks the less effective they are..... but you are correct the more angle you have the less travel will be taken up (marginally).  bumpstops maybe? do you have full extension also? and front or rear?

[Slolyfe]

Don't ^ your shocks. Extend your shock mounts or get the right size shock.

[Gold40Runner]

I have the same body style 4 runner. I have the same problem and tried everything. I have tried billstein 5150's and I am currntly running rs9000's turned up to 9. I was running 44044's and now have TG HD 4" still soft..My shocks are almost vertical with 5-6" showing on a 14" shock. I think bumpstops are in my future.. Maybe air bumps..Hope this helps

[zembalayan]

I have the same body style 4 runner. I have the same problem and tried everything. I have tried billstein 5150's and I am currntly running rs9000's turned up to 9. I was running 44044's and now have TG HD 4" still soft..My shocks are almost vertical with 5-6" showing on a 14" shock. I think bumpstops are in my future.. Maybe air bumps..Hope this helps

Bumpstops will help keep some life not only in your shocks but also your spring.  I am currently rolling with a pyramid style poly bump on my frame rails now (and luckily since my rear axle is so wide my 12" Bilstein short body 7100s are mounted outside the rear frame rail kinda like your typical front (more vertically mounted shocks).

Also, if you are not desert bombing, you could use DayStar EVS foam shock mounted bumpstops.  I did previously for several years, and they were the only bumps I had on my Runner's rear with 12" Bilstein 5125s.

Here's some pics as reference for the EVS foam bumps:

[zembalayan]

Those pics above are from 2008; here are some more recent pics with the above described wider axle, shocks mounted outside the frame rails, and the pyramid style poly bump stops:







See below for the extended shock mount below the axle's centerline, but tight toward the wheel for less hangup ( pay no mind to the what the finger is pointing at; the pic had a different referential purposes originally):

[Gold40Runner]

I like those poly bumps! Very nice, i like that housing too. (ruffstuff i believe right?) Yea I have been battling the shock issue for a while and everyone I talk to says to keep them as vertical as you can and I agree with slolyfe, get the correct lengh or move your shock tower higher, but 7" of shaft seems right from everything I have seen or built.