F250 Shock Mount w/ Bilstein 5150

Trying to mount some Bilstein 5150 on F250 towers behind the axle (D30). Bolted in a pair of spring plates off an Oldsmobile Bravada that are beefy and protect the eye bolt much better than stock CJ. It appears the Chevy caliper banjo bolts are going to strike the shocks at full turn. I have 33x10.50 BFG MT.

When I ran stock spring plates in the fwd position, the shock bodies hit the drag link. It didn't bother me too much when they were $50 shocks, but now with the Bilstein I am a little more concerned, so tried the rear.

Anyone with D30 and 5150s have pics of a successful install?

 

The good news is, if I can figure out the fitment issue, I've got 26" eye-to-eye at static.

 

Same issue here Clint. While I had the fender off doing the steering, I kept looking at the dent in the shock, the top mount holes in the frame, and my dual shock mount skids thinking I'm an idiot for not taking care of this issue. It also opens up the possibility of a sway bar attached to the front shock lug. Have you cycled the suspension without shocks to see how much travel you have?

 

Somewhere in the vicinity of 11" of travel without shocks, maybe more. Might borrow the forklift at work to take some accurate measurements.

 

Tht would be cool. You and I have similar lift springs so should be about the same. If a stock shock will do the job, I'll probably just move the mount back to the rear holes. But if more can be obtained, hey I'm open to anything.

 

You can see here it's mostly dropped down, and in the other direction the tire rubs the fender lip. The stock length shocks really limited this travel.

 

I've had the tire up to the fender too, which to me says no more upward travel wanted. Now if the stock shock limits downward travel, you may have something there so a longer shock would be desirable. I'm not sold on a taller mount though.

 

Stock shock definitely limited downward travel. With the stock shock mounts and a standard gas shock you can get about 7" of travel, varies a little by manufacturer. With the taller shock mounts and a 5150 you can get about 14". I am going to fix the bump stops to keep the tires from just kissing the fender lip, and I need to clearance my oil pan a little for the driveshaft, if I can just figure out this fitment issue with either the caliper in the rear position or the drag link in the front position.

 

I put the 10" 5100s on my Heep (haven't driven yet, started the engine for the first time last Sunday). I have a front 44 narrowed to 52", Wagoneer 44044 front springs and the ford shock mounts, with generic shock mount tabs on the axle end. Tight definitely describes it.

 

my ford towers are here .http://www.earlycj5.net/forums/showthread.php?65677-front-shock-towers I back cut the bracket so the shock did not stick inside for the tire to rub and I angled the shock leaning back to miss everything . the back cut got rid of the ford angle built into the tower. I had the shocks in front but the draglink cut a smashed the cheap shocks ,so I went with it behind. I have done shackle reversal also.

with different longer shocks you get alot move movement of of the suspension

 

Thanks, that's exactly what I was looking for. Going to have to do that same back cut to get the angle out of the mount; it's the angle that is putting the shock too close to the caliper.