TJ Outboard shock question

[Hulud44]

New to Pirate, not new to Jeeps or forums... Been reading here for a while and know there are some great fab guys.

I have a 2000 Wranger geared and locked on 35s... the whole 9...

I recently upgraded shocks to Bil 5100s all around. The rears are 15.4" Col - 25.0" ext, 9"travel. Im about to do a coil bracket relocation with the Ballistics fab brackets. Im debating on doing the outboard shock conversion at the same time. Picked up a set of ford towers from a guy on my other forum for cheap.
My question is with the proper manipulation of the axle tabs and height of the towers, do you think Ill be able to use the same rear shocks? Of course Id like to have them tucked up over the tube as much as possible. Im also debating which axle shock tabs to go with. Read a bunch of write ups of how and where guys mounted them. I did some rear LCA mount skids and am thinking I can get some flat mount tabs and go off them. Or is it better to go off the tube itself??

Just looking for some first hand experience. TIA...

[Beat95YJ]

Depends on how much of the ford tower you use. I have outboarded shocks using the poly kit and I run a much longer shock. If you want to run them you'll have to cut them down.


Search before buying from Ballistic.

[Hulud44]

I realize Ill have to cut down the tower. Wanted to make sure there is enough leeway to adjust everything to fit the shocks I have now.

I know all about the problems people have had with them in the past. Iv seen a few guys who have used there coil mounts and they said there were fine. Customer service is another story. But thanks for the heads up on that...

[Beat95YJ]

It could be done but IMO you should use a longer shock if you're going to be cutting your frame.

[y2knole]

coil bracket relo... are you talkin about the frame coil bucket?

if so, look at ruff-stuff's site. their frame buckets are like $60 a pair.

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/COILCC.html

and hes a vendor worth supporting.

[Hulud44]

Those are nice. I havent been on that site before. I do like the idea of the boxed bucket that surrounds the frame like ballistics. But Ill def give it some thought.