What are you guys running for shock mounts front/rear? After putting on the new TT YJ kit, I realized I was going to need new shock mounts (yes, Brent, you did tell me that :rolleyes: ).
I have half of the rear decided on. I am going to get the Spidertrax upper rear shock mount, but not sure about what I'm going to do for the rear lowers. The way it is set up now is that there appears to be a u-bolt plate welded to the bottom spring perch (it's SPOA) and the shock stud points back. I would just run this, but my old shocks are crushed from them hitting the axle tube. Any ideas on rear mounts? I have seen a lot that I like, but not sure where you actually weld them on. Anyone know where the Spidertrax ones weld on?
As for the front, I'm not sure. I'm thinking of the older Ford shock towers since they are so tall. I want something that will run all the way up to the fender well. As for the front lowers, this is where I get in trouble. The u-bolt plates are so big that they will hit the shocks as soon as the suspension starts to flex. It currently has the same set-up as the rear, will some kind of plate with a shock stud welded to the bottom spring perch. I talked to a local 4wd shop, and they said to just move the shock lower shock mounts to the top of the spring u-bolt plate and do a custom hoop. I don't want to move the lower mount that high, though. Any ideas all of you guys have would be great, and pictures are always appreciated. Thanks. ~Steve

for the lower mounts on both ends i ended up just using a couple of pieces of angle iron about 2 inches wide and drilled a hole through and stuck a bolt through it and welded the head inside the angle......they have a lot of flexability with location on the axle.....they're simple and cheap.....if i had to do it over i would probably use the front upper shock hoops that Sky sells.....they look like they would work pretty good......although a lot of people swear by the ford towers too....hope that helps....

as for the front towers, make your own, i made mine out of 3" u-channeling and bent the top over and welded it together again, there not on my zuki yet but their 4.5" higher, and i'm going to cut a square hole in my inside fender and run them stright up, and for lowers i'm not that far yet but it looks like i'm going with angle iron and welding it to the axle housing......
pic of one done the same way as mine, only with a 2" body lift so he didn't need to cut the fender........
http://www.mud-magnet.rockcrawler.com/als_shocktower.jpg

write up.....
http://www.mud-magnet.rockcrawler.com/shocktower.htm

Originally posted by squirrelman83
What are you guys running for shock mounts front/rear? After putting on the new TT YJ kit, I realized I was going to need new shock mounts (yes, Brent, you did tell me that :rolleyes: ).
I have half of the rear decided on. I am going to get the Spidertrax upper rear shock mount, but not sure about what I'm going to do for the rear lowers. The way it is set up now is that there appears to be a u-bolt plate welded to the bottom spring perch (it's SPOA) and the shock stud points back. I would just run this, but my old shocks are crushed from them hitting the axle tube. Any ideas on rear mounts? I have seen a lot that I like, but not sure where you actually weld them on. Anyone know where the Spidertrax ones weld on?
As for the front, I'm not sure. I'm thinking of the older Ford shock towers since they are so tall. I want something that will run all the way up to the fender well. As for the front lowers, this is where I get in trouble. The u-bolt plates are so big that they will hit the shocks as soon as the suspension starts to flex. It currently has the same set-up as the rear, will some kind of plate with a shock stud welded to the bottom spring perch. I talked to a local 4wd shop, and they said to just move the shock lower shock mounts to the top of the spring u-bolt plate and do a custom hoop. I don't want to move the lower mount that high, though. Any ideas all of you guys have would be great, and pictures are always appreciated. Thanks. ~Steve

REAR
I made my own upper mount. Pretty much like Spidertrax's. 1 1/4 sq tube .120 wall drill some holes so they slip over the the stock mounts, weld some tabs closer in(up to you how far) for your new shock mounts and bolt in.
I use the the same angle iron pin set up as well, but I use a real shock mount. 2" wide with the shock mount welded on the side. FRONT
I made my own tower with the same 1 1/4" sq tube .120 wall, similar to RRO's but angled (tube and Shock pin) I wish I had a pic :(
bottom I made some tabs that weld to the axle tube and ran a bolt/sleeve though them.

Weld the shock mount about 1/2" from the inside ubolt or Fab a bracket to com off of the spring perch back that way there is no
heat put to the axle cause there not very thick and they dont like heat point rear shocks at 45deg inboard

http://home.off-road.com/~shadow/frontclip/Image-02.jpg http://home.off-road.com/~shadow/frontclip/Image-01.jpg

Heres a couple pix of my mess ha ha.. I used 88 F350 Towers. They are a steel for 10 bucks a pop and they are pretty sweet.
You just have to cut a hole in the top of the fenderwell to get the full length of the tower to fit on the frame, Or you can cut it to fit without putting a whole in the top fender well.

go with the ford towers. they are nice and tall so you can run those long travel shocks and best of all they are cheap!!! they are only like $11 each from the ford house new so you can't go wrong:D

here's the ford shock tower #E5TZ-18183-A
good luck in your project:D :D :D

Just made some new ones, I have to take some pics though. There trick, you might like em.:)

Well, I think I decided on the front uppers. I'm going with the Ford shock towers. And the rear upper is getting treated to the Spidertrax mount. As far as lowers, still not sure, but thinkng TT front lowers and Spidertrax rear lowers.
Chris- Wow, you sure did chop up the Zuk, huh? :D You gonna tube the front when you get the bender? Got any pics of what John did?
Fatkid- Looking forward to seeing a couple pics of your mounts.
Rockrat- Thanks for the diagram, lotsa detail and definiately answers some questions.
Thanks everybody, keep 'em rolling in. :beer: ~Steve

as for the rear upper, i just made my own... here it is
find yourself some 33" long 2"od, 1/4" wall square tubing. find the center and make a 12" cenered cut off of the bottom side only. 2" offcenter on each side make some holes, as well as anywhere further out you want. you can then adjust your shock mounts on the trail w/o tools using D pins, and the shocks fit inside of the tube, so they don't bend the bolts like the stock ones do. i live in wisconsin where there aren't too many rocks, but the terrain always changes, and more vertical shocks are sometimes wanted for better stability and handling, and shocks closer in for rocks and slower, flexier places.
belive me, these mounts will never, ever break on you, and they're extremely cheap and affordable using an angle grinder, a drill and a saw with about an hour of labor. did i explain this well? ask any q's if you need them.

-justin aka Fuzzy

Thanks for the info, but I'm going with the Spidertrax one. I don't have any welding or fab skills, so I kinda have to rely on the bolt-on stuff. :rolleyes: I know, I know, but what can I do. Thanks for the idea, though. :) ~Steve

Sorry about the mess lol.. Heres the pic of the whole rig he he.
I have to get a tubing bender now. I am thinking about going ahead and removing the rest of the cab behind the seats and figuring out something with tubing. Still trying to decide he he.

http://home.off-road.com/~shadow/frontclip/Image-06.jpg

http://www.roadlessgear.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/skyshkmnt_tn.gif (http://www.roadlessgear.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/skyshkmnt_tn.gif)

Take a look at this one, its real simple and has 3 different locations to mount the shocks

Thats the one I got very nice one probblem is if you move the axle to far back plan on mounting on top or front of axle
I lucked out my shocks are now angled and just barely clear
might redue this winter:smokin:

Originally posted by DougO
http://www.roadlessgear.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/skyshkmnt_tn.gif (http://www.roadlessgear.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/skyshkmnt_tn.gif)

Take a look at this one, its real simple and has 3 different locations to mount the shocks


The one rockrat has and the one above is our rear upper shock mount, better pics comming soon....bolt on, 3 positions so if you ever think your ride is too soft, you can move the shock out, the studs are removable that come with the kit now, we also have lower mounts, and a front upper shock hoop kit, with lower front mounts. Check our web site for some info, Sky-Manufacturing.com