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I need help.......

2K views 4 replies 3 participants last post by  Billjohn 
#1 ·
ok guys i did a spoa lift on my 87 samurai. i used the factory suzuki u-bolt plates. so there for my shock mount on my axle is on top of my leaf springs. my factory shocks are bottoming out. i need to know what length/brand shock i need to get for the front and rear. i'd really like to go around having to cut off my shock mount and moving it to the bottom of the axle. i don't really do much fourwheeling in it. i use it mostly for hunting and driving around in my junkyard. any help would be appreciated. i am hoping to know what to buy/order a.s.a.p. so thanks in advance. i'll post pictures of it tomorrow. i still have a long way to go before its done. but i'll show my progress.
 
#2 ·
When converting the suspension to SPOA, the key benefit to the lift is the articulation you get. So I am assuming you want the lift, but not ability to use the added articulation when going offroad... ok.

Although moving the mounts is the right thing to do, you can use shorter shocks to keep from bottoming them out. Just remember that now the shocks won't extend as far and you will have the opposite problem when the suspension extends.

-Remove all the shocks.
-Drive the zook into a ditch at an angle (use 4wd) and get one front tire to just barely come off the ground while doing the same to the opposite rear tire. Shut it down and apply the e-brake. You can also use a set of car ramps if you want, but the key is to get opposite corners fully extended.
-Get out and you will see that on each axle you have a fully compressed tire and a fully extended tire.
-You can then take measurements for the shocks.
-Add an inch to the extended numbers and remove an inch from the compressed numbers. This will give you a little room so you won't bottom out either way.
-Take those measurements to the local parts place (Autozone, Kragens, O'Rielly, etc) and see if they will let you go through the shock guide to find shocks that meet your needs.
 
#4 ·
thanks for the help.. i ended up getting some rancho 1500 shocks and moved my lower mounts to my axle. it works a thousand times better. i took it muddin for the first time since the lift today. it was a pretty good ride. i'm planning on doing the same thing to the front end when i get a little money together to buy some new front shocks. btw.........does any one have any nice tricks to get the back door to quit making a racket? my back door makes a horrible sound when i hit harrd bumps. i have a rag stuffed between the door and the seal right now. it works decent, but i'm looking for something more permanent.
 
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