Hot Rod Shocks - Static Length ???

Pete and Jake's, Speedway, SoCal Speed Shop, and others all sell various versions of a "standard length" hot rod front shock that is 9.25" fully compressed and 14.25" fully extended.

Does anyone know what the recommended static or "at rest" length is. Going to build my own mounts and want to get them right.

 

Two schools of thought. Half n Half, or One Third / Two Thirds.

I use 1/3 compressed, leaving two thirds for the bumps. I can't imagine ever fully drooping the suspension and I want the extra compression for real world roads.

 

I recently bought front shocks for my '32 and the manufacturer of those shocks put the suggested "at rest" height right in the middle of the shock's travel.

 

You actually need more extension length than compression. The shock length is also determined the total distance the suspension travels so a shock 12" long my be too long in some cases and too short in others. In most cases rear suspensions have more travel distance so longer shocks are required. I like to use 40%compression and 60% extension but I am sure 50/50 is allright provided the shock is long enough not to stretch out completely on extension. If the shock travels to far it will damage the seals.
If your are using Hydraulic shocks a guy see leakage but with gas shocks the seal being damaged is not visable so I have personally traced several suspension problems to gas shocks that the gas had leaked out and they were not offering any shock dampening.

 

Bottom line is that the shock you mentioned only has a total travel of 2" so if your suspension has a total travel of 4" then the shock is too short.

 

Oops. The correct numbers are 9.25" compressed and 14.25" extended. I'm all thumbs.

 

I bet your middle finger still works though!!!

 

Do it right and call mat at five points.. www.classicautoshocks.com he is the expert and can set you up with the correct shocks for your car.

 

Hmmm....

QA1 doesn't see it that way. You won't likley over extend a shock of the correct length unless you pull a Dukes of Hazzard manuever. Jacking a car with the axle unsupported won't damage a quality shock. Most have bump stops built in.​

<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 align=left><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle></TD><TD class=text2 vAlign=center align=middle>Part Number


</TD><TD></TD><TD class=text2 vAlign=center align=middle>Mounting</TD><TD></TD><TD class=text2 vAlign=center align=middle>Compressed Length


</TD><TD></TD><TD class=text2 vAlign=center align=middle>Extended Length


</TD><TD></TD><TD class=text2 vAlign=center align=middle>Recommended Ride Height


</TD><TD></TD><TD class=text2 vAlign=center align=middle>Spring Length


</TD><TD></TD><TD class=text2 vAlign=center noWrap align=middle>





</TD><TD></TD><TR><TD class=line vAlign=top colSpan=14 align=middle></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width=1 align=middle>




</TD><TD class=text2 vAlign=center align=middle>SR2254P </TD><TD></TD><TD class=text2 vAlign=center align=middle>Poly </TD><TD></TD><TD class=text2 vAlign=center align=middle>9 3/8 Inch </TD><TD></TD><TD class=text2 vAlign=center align=middle>14 3/8 Inch </TD><TD></TD><TD class=text2 vAlign=center align=middle>12 1/8 in. - 12 5/8 in. </TD><TD></TD><TD class=text2 vAlign=center align=middle>10 Inch </TD><TD></TD><TD class=text2 vAlign=center noWrap align=middle></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

Sorry if the scans are not real clear but for the record: these charts clearly show the shocks being installed with more extension distance.