Shocks and bushings

Looking for input on what shocks and spring bushings to get. theres alot to choose from. I'm installing a 3.5'' lift, can i use the stock shocks? Thanks, Geoffrey. 1966 cj5.

 

I just replaced rubber with poly bushings and will never go back to rubber.

 

nope you cannot use stock shocks, they will be too short.

can't help you on what size shocks to run, I'm sure someone on here will know what to run for that lift.


just throwing this out there to think about it. You could pick up a set of f350 shock mounts to get longer shocks up front. I haven't installed the mounts yet... I been driving without front shocks its smother than stock suspension and new shocks.


I used prothane bushings when I put my used lift in. Have fun replacing bushings, I used a cheap propane torch.

 

Geoffrey, the collapsed length of the shock has to be shorter than the distance between the pins at full spring compression. A shock can only, at most, double its length, so that's the maximum travel top to bottom.

The lift makers usually provide a longer shock absorber, and then advise that you add spacers under the frame stops to keep the shocks from bottoming. This will give you a little more travel than stock. You can use the original shocks, and they will not bottom out. But then you will be topping out the shocks quite often.

If you have a 3.5" lift, the best compromise would be a shock with a collapsed length that's around 1.75" (or a little more) longer than stock. Then you need to space the axle stops down so that the shock does not bottom out. Or you can raise the top shock mounts (using something like the F350 mounts), use a longer shock, and get more travel and the shock won't bottom out. But whatever you do, don't use shocks where the shock absorber stops the upward travel of the axle - that would be bad.

I would measure.

Put the Jeep on the ground with a typical load and the new springs. Measure the distance between the pins. That should be roughly the middle of your shock travel. Look at listings of shock lengths, and find some where half-way between the extended and collapsed length is your measurement. Start with Skyjacker or BDS - they list a few lengths for CJs. Now measure the distance between the frame and the axle - this is your maximum upward travel. You will need frame bumper spacers so that the collapsed length is shorter than the maximum upward travel. This will give you a feeling for what you are looking for.

The shock companies like Koni publish lengths of their shock absorbers. It may take some searching to find the listing - a friend at a parts store or speed shop may be able to help. If you can find a shock listing that has the ideal length, go back to the application and see if its similar to your Jeep or whatever. For example, you probably can use shocks from the same axle of any other live-axle leaf-sprung application, if they have the right length and ends. The shock listing will show you what ends the shocks have. Then you can buy shocks for the same application from any of the various suppliers.

If you don't want to do all this work, just pick some shocks that are as close as you can get them from Skyjacker or BDS, and use an axle stop that will make them work.