[bartamos]

I am fabing/mounting rear shocks on a truck, leaf spring rear. Do the shock eyes of each shock have to be mounted in the same direction? and do they have to be parallel to rear axle or perpendicular or can they be: one eye perp and one eye parallel? I am getting ready to mount them with top eye/bolt perp and bottom eye/bolt parallel. I have a feeling they should be same direction and that should be parallel so that the shocks can "rotate" as the axle moves up and down? Is this so basic that I am the only one who doesn't know? didn't find this in search. Please help.

[Pony]

I have always mounted them parallel to the axle housing and slightly foreward to stay as close to the arc or the suspension travel. I also try to keep them as perpendicular as possible. Some deviation is ok but too much can bind up the shaft and cause poor shock action and even bend the shafts at extreme angles. Heres a set up under a 53 Ford sedan. The shocks are shaft mount but the pics should help with angles.

[bartamos]

Thank you for your response. Please DO NOT focus on the angle of the shock. Please clarify your answer as to the direction of the EYE, (THE BOLT HOLE OF THE SHOCK). I am not asking about anything but that. Can one eye of the shock be parallel and one eye be perpendicular to the axle. Please use the words "shock eye" instead of "shock". I have to know this answer. Thanks again.

[Henry Highrise]

[QUOTE=bartamos] Can one eye of the shock be parallel and one eye be perpendicular to the axle. Yes that will work OK.

[bartamos]

thanks for the answer, I was afraid i would put the shock in some kind of bind. Was hoping for a veteran car guy to answer. I see you are a real Veteran also. Thanks again and thanks for your service during the Viet Nam era. Sir!

[Henry Highrise]

Don't put a whole lot of angle on them.