Shock mounts on radius arm?

[Silverslk]

Ok guys. I have a question or two.

Before Baja, I installed a homemade C&T beam and extended radius arm kit I bought from a guy online. He included coil buckets (custom), extended radius arms and 10" fox shocks. The lower mount is on top of the radius arm and the upper mount was built off the top of the bucket. I already had to move the upper up further due to insufficient up travel. Well, the 10's suck and I scored some 12's.

Can the lower shock mount go on the side (closer to tire) of the radius arms or is there a reason most keep the mount on top? I ask because in XJ's mounting the shock to the lower control arm changes the handling vs mounting directly to the axle.

Current setup:

[Polarcub]

Hmm I am curious what is limiting the travel for you with 10s usually a 10 off the rear like that will pull the same travel as a 12"up front on the beam with that being said I dont see why you couldnt move the mount to outside the radius arm as long as your tires will clear at lock which I suspect they wont. It may be better to relocate the upper mount?
Any idea what is limiting the travel for you besides shock length? also have you checked to see where your axles are at at full droop mine are strapped at nearly the max angles? Just some ideas to look at....the other option would be to use the 12s up front off the front of the beam I personally have not seen an application where 12s were used behind the the bucket but that doesnt mean it cant be done.

[CBDuner]

Your upper mounts should be located where the collapsed shock is at full bump. If your shock is bottoming before you hit your bump stop, then you need to move your upper mount up or lower mount down. If it's already setup correctly at full bump, then leave your mounts and you'll just gain 2" of droop.

[tcm glx]

Hey Andy, if you mount it on the side of the radius arm, between the tire and the radius, isn't it possible that as the radius arm droops, the fact that it arcs a little like this ( , then it could potentially hit the shock shaft... just something to watch out for.

I like Jeremy's suggestion, change the upper mount.

[Silverslk]

I understand how to cycle suspension. The 10's are non-res and won't hld above 60psi. I would rather upgrade to 4 month old 12" res's than deal with the 10's. I thought about in front of the beam.....maybe I'll look into that.

Thanks guys

[Silverslk]

Hey Andy, if you mount it on the side of the radius arm, between the tire and the radius, isn't it possible that as the radius arm droops, the fact that it arcs a little like this ( , then it could potentially hit the shock shaft... just something to watch out for.

I like Jeremy's suggestion, change the upper mount.

Yeah, I already re-did the upper mount once. haha

I figure to do it right I would need a tube shock hoop.....if I'm gonna hassle with that, I might as well deal with coilovers already too. haha Not quite ready for that cash outlay.

[SteveG]

Sell the 12" shocks and buy some better (than yours) 10" shocks. Or rebuild yours and add a reservoir. Mounting a 12 behind the coil-bucket is not worth the work and it's not ideal for the front of the beam.

[Nick]

Andy, i have a set of freshly rebuilt, and valved 10" sway away resis, if you are interested.

[Silverslk]

Sell the 12" shocks and buy some better (than yours) 10" shocks. Or rebuild yours and add a reservoir. Mounting a 12 behind the coil-bucket is not worth the work and it's not ideal for the front of the beam.

Well, I got a smokin deal on them so maybe I'll sell them and buy some Bilsteins. I'm a Bilstein guy anyway. Thats exactly what I thought. I think the 10 is right for where its at and I would need a 14 in front of beam, correct?

[Polarcub]

Yes a 14" is the preferred length off the front of the beam, for cost effectiveness I agree with Steve sell/trade the 12s for a better 10 if you go with the bilsteins you could get the acv in it as well

[Copykat]

I'm running 14" travel infront of the beam and 12's off the rad arms.

Do you have pictures of the 12's. I bought a pair of Emusion 10's for the back but think they will be too short for where I want to put them. 12's would work out good.

Let me know if your interested in selling them.

[Clean Racing INC.]

I'm running 14" travel infront of the beam and 12's off the rad arms.

I would like to see some pictures of this please, both upper and lower mounts..

I thinks You should keep the 12's and make them work.. Unless you have tons of cash to throw around for another set of shocks.

[hobbyturnedobsession]

I'm thinkin of doing the same thing with mine. I went to the rear of the bucket and mine are too long so I thought I could trim the flat plate on the top of the rad arm and mount the bottom of the shock to the lower arm.

[philofab]

The angle of your tabs is wrong. They should be parallel to a line drawn from between the two pivots at 90 degrees.

You can mount anywhere you like on the arm but be aware the brake caliper gets close at full lock and tires like to get close to the shock sometimes. The closer to the wheel the better the control the shock has but it also reduces the travel.

[shockseals.com]

a 10 behind the beam is plenty...especially in a truck running coils and stock steering.

[Silverslk]

The angle of your tabs is wrong. They should be parallel to a line drawn from between the two pivots at 90 degrees.

You can mount anywhere you like on the arm but be aware the brake caliper gets close at full lock and tires like to get close to the shock sometimes. The closer to the wheel the better the control the shock has but it also reduces the travel.

Good catch!! I didn't even notice that.....something else to fix. haha


Philo, did you see that thread that Dan posted up in General Tech about TTB'ing his Cherokee? He's the guy you were talking to that cold ass night around the fire who you bought from at Leduc.

[philofab]

Philo, did you see that thread that Dan posted up in General Tech about TTB'ing his Cherokee? He's the guy you were talking to that cold ass night around the fire who you bought from at Leduc.

Yes, and I replied. I had a feeling it was him. 1st smart Jeep owner I've ever met. There aren't many. Lol.

[Copykat]

I'm running 14" travel infront of the beam and 12's off the rad arms.

I would like to see some pictures of this please, both upper and lower mounts..

I thinks You should keep the 12's and make them work.. Unless you have tons of cash to throw around for another set of shocks.

Sorry i don't have any closer pictures. The shocks are Ranco RS9000XL's The fronts are the 14" travel shock and the rear one is their 12" travel.



Here is one from when I was building it.

[Dezertbronco]

isint this like comparing apples to oranges. The length that rancho sent me for a 12'' shock and what SAW sent me was a difference of 2''. I have a feeling that I will have to double check it again.

[Copykat]

I've measured mine and they are 12" and 14" but the overall length between shocks will differ. I have a pair of 14" Fox's and what my 14" rancho's are at ride height are what the Fox's are collapsed.