Thread: Shock absorbers - quick question re length/s

As a comparison I have Lovells (Blue) +50's (heavy duty, there's two versions) all round with xrox bar winch & synthetic rope. Still running std springs, and brake lines, though I suspect the shocks are the brake line protectors at the moment, have fitted ABS extensions though.

Planning on running custom konis, longer and valved to suit.

I was massively sagged so I don't have a comparison from standard but it went from bump stop to diff clearance of two fingers (approx 35mm) to a whole hand with plus some. Had the std bumper with a custom (heavy) winch tray hidden behind, then made a custom tube bar then the x-rox. Stayed the same throughout.

Has someone done a listing/post of what suits what in terms of body length and travel for different heights? I've spoken to Gwynn Lewis himself about some stuff and the main thing he stressed on the D2 is don't bother moving the mounts up/down.

For instance, with a 2" lift, is it possible to gain 1" up travel and 2" down by altering body and rod lengths. Is it possible to get the static numbers of up travel possible (to bind or shock top out), exposed rod length of std shock (at std ride height) and total down travel (to required point of either keeping the coil contained within the original mounts or dislocated to a point acceptable either with or without relocation mechanisms).

The ride height isn't particularly relevant when specing the shock.

You'll need to match the shock to the free length (uncompressed length) of the spring. You can achieve +35mm by a number of means, including with a shorter but stiffer than standard spring, or by a standard rate but longer than standard length spring etc. On the front you will also be limited by the Xmember under the front propshaft and brake hose lengths.

This said, I would expect it to be ok with standard length shocks including Bilstein, but you do need to compare the spring free lengths. Also, Bilstein might have a shock to suit lifted springs.

For what it's worth, about three years ago I installed +2" springs (same length but stiffer) to the front and left the shocks standard, without any issues.