Hi guys. Been lurking for a long time but finally posting a question.
I've installed a 8.8 in the back and I decided to mount my shock mounts even with the axle tube to prevent them from hanging up. This has resulted in pretty steep shock angles. Is 51 and 55 degrees too flat to provide proper traction?

just cut through the floor and build some hoops. problem solved.:flipoff2:

Are the upper mounts in the stock location? If so, you fine.....just what a bunch of us have done. I wouldn't move the top mounts inward any more, then they will be at too much of an angle and you won't get any stability out of them.

that's the problem. I've moved them inboard as I am using the same 6" shocks. I think I'll need to go out get some 4" shocks( to account for the lifted lower mount) and use the stock location.

just cut through the floor and build some hoops. problem solved.:flipoff2:

X 2

For me the angle didn't meet my handling requirements. Body roll was too high and the shock travel was too low. It caused the shocks to get softer as the suspension compressed. The angle would also cause rear shock aeration which creates a loss of dampening.

Mount the shock on top of the axle and through the to some hoops will provide better axle control and allow for more travel depending on your suspension parts. Remote reservoir adjustable shocks will be the type I'll be buying.

What is the ideal angle for shocks. Straight vertical?

What is the ideal angle for shocks. Straight vertical?

No you dont want straight vertical. You some angle for some good flex. This is just a random answer but I would say like 80-75 deg. I really dont know, I could be way wrong....guys help me out and give him the right answer.

I think that cherokeefreak is just bout in the right ballpark there.

Best angle is straight up, that uses the most amount of shock travel for suspension travel, but that might be hard to mount, so as close as you can get is best. As long as the shock has decent travel relative to suspension travel you're fine if you work with the valving choices.

If you choose to have only a couple of inches of shock travel in each direction you're really not getting much out of the shocks. If you're careful choosing a shock length you can get a lot of articulation out of a 9" or 10" shock, if it's mounted at a slight angle like on the stock location.

I agree . . .

Here (http://www.4x4review.com/feature/shock-genius.asp) is a brief explanation of why vertical is the (theoretical) best position.

I wish that someone in the know would comment on how shock angle is effected by the arc of axle movement and other factors associated with leaf or articulated suspensions.

Hi guys. Been lurking for a long time but finally posting a question.
I've installed a 8.8 in the back and I decided to mount my shock mounts even with the axle tube to prevent them from hanging up. This has resulted in pretty steep shock angles. Is 51 and 55 degrees too flat to provide proper traction?

When I installed my rear D60 I originally welded my shock mounts at the center of the tubes like so:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/SierraDrifter/Jeep%20Build/old-shock-mnt.jpg

I realized that I lost several inches of shock travel and when fully loaded my shocks would bottom out on big drops.
So I cut off my shock mounts and changed to this type of mount. I welded the new mounts as low as I could.
Even though this put the bottom of the mount just a tad below the bottom of the axle.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/SierraDrifter/Jeep%20Build/new-shock-mnt.jpg

I moved the shock mount out a little up against the u-bolt. This gave me back about 1 3/4 inches of shock travel.
I also installed a 1 inch longer shackle on leaf spring mount. So I ended up with 2 1/4" more shock travel. Much better.

where can i get those mounts at

Search> "motion ratio".

You can calculate your new damping numbers.

where can i get those mounts at

JKS sells them, but they are over priced. http://store.jksmfg.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=FAB_922&Store_Code=JKS01&Category_Code=FABParts
Or you can buy one leaf spring mount, cut it in half, and drill a hole for the shock mounting bolt.
Or if you're really cheap you can cut some channel with a hole saw on a drill press and make em from scratch.

$60 is way too much for that is there anywhere else that makes them

Side question but still somewhat related:

Would you still run the drivers side shock in the back of the axle and the pass side in the front of the axle (like stock) or when you relocate would you move them both to the rear?

Side question but still somewhat related:

Would you still run the drivers side shock in the back of the axle and the pass side in the front of the axle (like stock) or when you relocate would you move them both to the rear?

Well because of the way the upper mounts are located you have to run them staggered. I supose you could make new upper mounts, but I don't know what would be gained by doing that.