shock setups

What are good shocks for trucks that lay frame and how should they be set up? Example: On the axle at what angles? on the bars? Should the shock be fully compressed when laying frame? iAny help is much appreciated. Pictures are even better! i have a 1996 dodge ram with a four link with bag on bars.

Check With RCD, they will be able to help you out. On another note, are you going to be running some sort of lateral link on that setup? The reason I ask is because I don't think the uppers are triangulated nearly enough.

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UnusualFabrication said:

Check With RCD, they will be able to help you out. On another note, are you going to be running some sort of lateral link on that setup? The reason I ask is because I don't think the uppers are triangulated nearly enough.

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yes im putting a panhard bar in soon. what is RCD

http://www.racecardynamics.com/home.htm

anyone else have suggestions?

http://grantkustoms.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=121&osCsid=80a70b04ce055eb7cbcba3261b0f4204

If possible mount them straight up and down, the more you lean them over the less effective they become. If you have to lean them over you'll need stiffer shocks than normal. You can make a 7" travel shock get 14" of travel by mounting it at 45* but you'll need a much stiffer shock. Ultimately its going to depend on how much travel you need and the space you have to mount the shock. I like to keep the part of the shock that's mounted on the axle as close to the wheel as possible. The upper mount just depends on what I have to work with. I hope this helps out some.....

very helpful!!! these were the answers i am looking for. i have room to mount them close to the wheels. if mounted at angles it gives the frame more leverage to compress the shock right?

There is leverage involved but thats not what makes it ineffective. Laying shocks down on an angle minimizes the stroke of the shock, which is good for axle travel but bad for bump absorption. Therefore youd want a shock with stiffer valving because it doesnt cycle as far. You def want it as close to the wheel as possible and just about every setup Ive done has the shocks on a bit of an angle. Putting the shocks on the bars is fine but makes them less effective as well since you are changing the stroke length there as well.

I like the bilstein shocks. They make all different mounting styles and stiffnesses.

The key to mounting the shocks is to set the shock perpendicular to the arm you are mounting it on at full bump (fully compressed).