I am still mired in my engine swap, work and life in general have kept me away for a while, but I am back at it. I needed to pull my rear axle out, and noticed that my rear shock mounts are trashed at the crossmember. Nasty ass cracks. I could weld them up and beef them, but the problem is that the rancho 9000's are too long. Springs are 2 1/2 inch skyjackers, and the shocks are for a 4 inch lift kit. Dufus me listened to another dufus on that brainy move. I really don't want to lower my bumpstop, as I don't want to loose any travel. While I have the whole rig apart I would like to change the shock placment. I am leaning toward trying to lay them both on an angle backwards, kinda of like a Chevy. I would weld in the mount on the axle as low as possible right above the spring, and the top mount would be welded to the outside of the frame and extending it above utilizing clearance afforded by the 3 inch bodylift. I am not really happy with the rear jackers, too harsh when empty, (2000 lbs on the rear unladen) and too soft with the trailer on the back, or a heavy load, but they will be there for the forseeable future.

Any of you guys done the shocks like this? Any other ideas?

Originally posted by ChiScouter
I am leaning toward trying to lay them both on an angle backwards, kinda of like a Chevy. I would weld in the mount on the axle as low as possible right above the spring, and the top mount would be welded to the outside of the frame and extending it above utilizing clearance afforded by the 3 inch bodylift

That be the best way to go. Although they might have to intrude into the wheel well/cargo space.

I'm putting long travel shocks on mine and will install them as straight up as possible, only angling them to the rear as necessary to align them perpendicular to the spring travel. Ya get the most outta your shocks that way. I'll build towers into my tubs as needed. My flip/fold seat is long gone.

& use a 1inch lift block & 1inch shackle lift, or a mix of the 2. or just a 2in block.

I used the stock upper mount and moved the lower mount to the axle tube close to the springs and I have a lot of flex.
I also have a two inch longer than stock shackle that really helped open the suspension up.

HTH.