[GMracer]

Anyone know where I could get some good info on what angles to set up shocks to get the most travel out of the smallest package? I did a search and can't really find what I was looking for. Thanks in advance guys!

[powerrodsmike]

The further you lay your shock over, the more travel you wll get from the axle, but you will trade off with less dampening and less spring rate.

15-25* seems to be a average angle on rear shocks.

Check out Speedway motor's chart..



You will see that the motion ratio is tied to the spring rate factor.


WWW.speedwaymotors.com

What exactly are you trying to do?


Later, mikey

[GMracer]

I know you guys are into totally different things, but its for a shockwave setup, and trying to set it up with as much lift, I'm figuring if I did it at like 20* I'd gain maybe 1/2"

The other option was to run sleeve bags and then mount seperate shocks but sleeves have 7.5" travel and I was trying to accomplish a shock setup that had that amount of travel but also limited the bag from over extending, it's really a pain in the butt so far to get it too look good and work perfectly.

[powerrodsmike]

Shockwaves limit your travel. The are nice looking , but have few mechanical advantages over a bag. Straight up and down gives the longest travel you can get, and doesn't make the rate progressively softer as the suspension compresses.

Moving the shockwave in front of the axle will get you a little more travel too. But then you lose rate.
Put regular air bags, then adjust the seperate shocks so it limits your droop to the max extended length of the bag, put the shocks on an angle if you have to, or move the upper mount up, or the lower mount down.

Then put seperate upper stops ..I like using rubber.


What are you building?

Later, mikey

[GMracer]

It's a 2001 Silverado, regular cab short bed I'm just about done with the frame but I'm think of redoing the back half to fit the wheels and what you said I've already done for the bag travel, bump stops and shock limiters just trying to get some other ideas. I'm getting limited on room due to my 14bolt SF and frame rails narrowed to fit the 20x15s I know this site is generally older muscle cars and such but you guys no your stuff about suspension theory it seems.

But basically, I'm just trying to figure out some options to get it right, make it function, and look like it's supposed to be like that, instead of all stupid looking.

[powerrodsmike]

I just re read my post above...I messed that one up...shouldn't post before my morning coffee.

It should read ..Straight up and down will give the highest rate,
Angling your shock/ shockwave will get you more travel at the axle..but you will lose rate..


Later, mikey

[GMracer]

Originally Posted by powerrodsmike

I just re read my post above...I messed that one up...shouldn't post before my morning coffee.

It should read ..Straight up and down will give the highest rate,
Angling your shock/ shockwave will get you more travel at the axle..but you will lose rate..


Later, mikey

can you explain how that works, cause that means I may be able to run a shorter shock if I can set it up right

[powerrodsmike]

See the chart above, you will see that as you angle the shock, it compresses less than what the axle moves...A shock mounted on a 45 degree angle will make the shock compress 1/2" for every 1" that the axle moves ...

So with a 45* shock mount you can have a shock with 4" of travel control 8" of axle travel..But for every 100 pounds of lift you need at the axle, you will need 200# of spring rate. And you will need more dampening action at the shock, because the shock will move slower in relation to the axle.

Lesser angles will perform at the similar ratios shown in the chart above.


Hope that helps.

mikey

[GMracer]

ahh after you word it like that it makes since so basically 22.5" it'll compress 3/4" for every inch the axle moves, makes sense. Thanks for the help. The shocks I'll be running will be 16 position double adjustable so I should be able to dial it in pretty good. I really appreciate the help.

[powerrodsmike]

I hope I redeemed myself for the erroneous info I posted in my first post...

Mikey

[GMracer]

yes sir! haha thanks man!