Background: 2005 LJ Rubihara 4" lift, 33's, 1-1/4" body lift, Helwig HD anti sway bar, Rancho 9000 shocks & RE springs
Rancho shocks 24" extended, 15-1/2" collapsed = 8-1/2" of shock travel.
4" lift Rubicon Express LJ springs free length 16-1/2" estimated fully compressed length 4" =12-1/2" of travel.
A while back I installed Rancho 9000 shocks on the Rubihara. After setting my bump stops for the compressed shock length I noticed it was limiting the up travel substantially. If I unbolted the lower shock mount I could raise the axle another 3" without hitting anything.
I got to think what if I raised the upper shock mount? Any raising I could do would give that much more up travel.
I couldn't find much info on this so I decided to do something myself. I'm not a machinist or a welder, it had to be a bolt on mod.
In theory the only force on the upper shock mount (if the bump stops are set correctly and the shock if free to float within the design limits of the flexible mount) is the force of the damping designed into the shock on both compression and rebound. My trac bar acts as a limiter for the fully extension of the shock. Even with both rear wheels off the ground the trac bar won't let the shocks fully extend. In addition to that my Currie bump stops hold the spring on both ends which also won't let the shock fully extend.
I determined I could raise the upper mount close to an 1-1/2" by moving the bar pin through the hole (instead of below) and adding 1" spacers above the shock mount. This will only work if you have a body lift.
I used this in the standard bolt position to act as a stud. I got fully threaded so the factory nut was held tight in place.
This picture shows the grade 10.9 60mm length bolt in place. I had to purchase 4- 60mm bolts from advance auto for $9.
I couldn't make some cool aluminum spacer because I'm not a machinist. But I did have several cheap 18mm sockets rolling around ( The socket fits over the welded nut firmly. I wanted a large base for the spacer and the square 3/8" hole acts as a great centering tool. With the spacers in place the center line of the bolts is the same as stock.
By doing this my range of shock travel is much more inline with the realistic range of the suspension travel. Because the upper mount is moved completely above the opening in the bracket there is no chance of the shock shaft binding on anything.
So is this totally getto? If my spacer was black anodized aluminum with some cool logo on it would that it less getto?
What is the downside to this mod?
Rancho shocks 24" extended, 15-1/2" collapsed = 8-1/2" of shock travel.
4" lift Rubicon Express LJ springs free length 16-1/2" estimated fully compressed length 4" =12-1/2" of travel.
A while back I installed Rancho 9000 shocks on the Rubihara. After setting my bump stops for the compressed shock length I noticed it was limiting the up travel substantially. If I unbolted the lower shock mount I could raise the axle another 3" without hitting anything.
I got to think what if I raised the upper shock mount? Any raising I could do would give that much more up travel.
I couldn't find much info on this so I decided to do something myself. I'm not a machinist or a welder, it had to be a bolt on mod.
In theory the only force on the upper shock mount (if the bump stops are set correctly and the shock if free to float within the design limits of the flexible mount) is the force of the damping designed into the shock on both compression and rebound. My trac bar acts as a limiter for the fully extension of the shock. Even with both rear wheels off the ground the trac bar won't let the shocks fully extend. In addition to that my Currie bump stops hold the spring on both ends which also won't let the shock fully extend.
I determined I could raise the upper mount close to an 1-1/2" by moving the bar pin through the hole (instead of below) and adding 1" spacers above the shock mount. This will only work if you have a body lift.
I used this in the standard bolt position to act as a stud. I got fully threaded so the factory nut was held tight in place.
This picture shows the grade 10.9 60mm length bolt in place. I had to purchase 4- 60mm bolts from advance auto for $9.
I couldn't make some cool aluminum spacer because I'm not a machinist. But I did have several cheap 18mm sockets rolling around ( The socket fits over the welded nut firmly. I wanted a large base for the spacer and the square 3/8" hole acts as a great centering tool. With the spacers in place the center line of the bolts is the same as stock.
By doing this my range of shock travel is much more inline with the realistic range of the suspension travel. Because the upper mount is moved completely above the opening in the bracket there is no chance of the shock shaft binding on anything.
So is this totally getto? If my spacer was black anodized aluminum with some cool logo on it would that it less getto?
What is the downside to this mod?
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