SOA my rear Dana 60 in my YJ and want to move the shock mounts to the top of the axle tube.

Is there a engineering principle that says shocks work better placed straight up and down (like stock YJ's) or angled like some rock buggies run?

Does one method allow for better articulation?

I can weld a bar between the frame and mount the shocks in whatever configuration, but I need to know what angle and where.

Originally posted by RSQJEEP

Does one method allow for better articulation?



if the shocks are angled towards the center of the vehicle,
they would have longer travel - simple geometry.

if the shock is mounted straight upwards then it's travel ~ the axle's travel; but if it is angled(according to the angle) then the their travel is shorter than the axle's travel. capich?

you cant angle the shocks too much because after a certain angle they would stop being efficient in absorbing.

in the coilover setups things are much more simple, because the coil does not limit the axle's movement, while with leaf(including SOA) the leaf pack might limit the axle's movement, depending
on the kind of spring eye attachment, like for example in revolvers.

so, you could and maybe should angle your shocks(put them on loops - much stronger), but measure how much your spring packs will alloe your axle to move.

Interesting... Do you know degree will start to limit the articulation?

You will get much better damping if you mount the shocks vertically. You can still acheive the travel you need by mounting the shocks inboard (toward the center of the diff, instead of toward the tires). I mounted mine through the floor to a hoop behind the back seat.

Originally posted by RSQJEEP
Interesting... Do you know degree will start to limit the articulation?

the angle will not limit the ARTICULATION but the damping ability.
the higher the angle the bigger the travel and the lower the damping.

a reasonable angle would be up to 30-35 deg, but check what other things might limit you - the frame rails(in full opening/closing) etc.

in short, this is not something you can determine through correspondence.....:D :D

But the more I learn about how the shocks work and how angles/damping is effected the better my Jeep will ride later. Education is a beautiful thing.

Anyone have pics of SOA rear with shocks installed?