I'm changing the gearing in my AV8 pickup and, while I'm at it, would like to get some more give in the rear suspension. When I built the truck I installed tube shocks and just bought Gabriels that worked length-wise for the 12" mount distance. They ride so hard and have no give on my light pickup rear end. Without them installed I can bounce the bed pretty easily but can't budge it with them in place so it seems that the spring is not too tight. Does anyone have any experience with a shock made for a very light load that has 5/8" eyes on each end and has the proper travel for a 12" resting span? I've considered original type shocks and have even thought that friction shocks could be useful in dampening the bounce. Thoughts?
I don't know the lengths (they are really close to what you need), but look up 50 Plymouth front shocks. I have them on my 32 tudor and it rides nice. Maybe a little soft even.
Here is a link to shock specs. http://www.monroe.com/downloads/install-instructions-guides/MonroeMountingLengthSpecifications.pdf
I put these Bilstein's on my truck, also the same shocks are on my roadster. I wish they had piston covers but they are excellent shocks...and they come in my favorite color!
Without seeing how they are mounted, is it possible to change the angle. Straight up and down will give a lot more resistance than 45 degrees. Steve
45 degrees is a bit much. 15 to 20 degrees is good, with a maximum of 30, otherwise the actual operating stroke is not enough. An expensive option, but fully adjustable can take the guess work out of it. Or, find and talk to a shock supplier that knows their stuff. @Mimilan would be one who would have good advice. (No, not a shock supplier, but certainly a supplier of excellent info.)
They are at an angle of about 10 degrees. I've heard about the '50 Plymouth shocks and may give a set of them a try. I might pull one leaf also for a little bit more give in the back end. I'm not shooting for a Cadillac ride but right now this thing rides like a brick. Thanks for the responses.
Yes 45 is a bit to much, and I have been told a thousand times, don't exaggerate. In my uneducated opinion I think that another 10 to 15 degrees would soften up the ride a lot. It may also improve the handling as the shocks will work a bit like a panhard rod. I emphasize "a bit like"not the same as. Steve
How much did they compress when you had all the weight of the body and everything else on the suspension? I've seen a couple of guys who bought shocks that were right for what you see in the photo in post 7 but after the ride was all assembled they were bottoming out. Those shocks look to be on the light side but posting the brand and part number will let one or more of us research them a tad and maybe figure out what their rating is. They are too long for your truck but I have run rear shocks for a Plymouth Scamp. Dodge Demon or other Mopar on the back of my 48 without issues. I was working in a parts house when I installed them and searched the catalog for what were the cheapest ones that size I could find. My problem wasn't shocks or springs it was that I dearly needed a C notch.
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