[BowDown]

Hi Guys,

Im fitting a 4" Lift kit (2" BL and 2" Spring Lift)
I have dobinson struts.

Am now looking for some Rear Shocks,

Do i have to look for shocks to cater for a 4" Lift or 2".

Cheers,

[DarkHorse]

What model Vit have you got? I'm going to assume pre-98, though some of the following is universal:

Shocks are completely independant of the body, so you really only need to suit the shocks to the springs.

However, if you are planning on fitting bigger than 235/75ish tyres (the only real reason to do a BL...?) that will have implications on how much travel you get before the tyres start munching the arches.

If you already have the springs and tyres, fit them, unbolt your old shock and with the car sitting on it's wheels measure between the shock mounts. This will be your ride height.

The more important measurements are your max compression and droop. Jack the rear of the car right up and put the chassis on stands. Remove the shock on one side and lower the hub gently on a jack, keeping an eye on brake lines, handbrake cables etc until either something gets tight (you can give the handbrake cables some more reach by unbolting the keepers on the control arms and chassis, and the brake line where the connection between hard and rubber lines is just behind the proportioning valve) or the spring is just short of falling out. This is the max you want your wheel to travel downward, so measure between the shock mounts for the extended length you want.

Remove the spring and re-fit the wheel/tyre. Jack the hub up until the tyre is just about to touch the wheel arch. Measure between the shock mounts for the compressed length you want. You now have all the information you need to decide which shocks will suit, so get googling and ringing around. Also consider how much weight will be on the back wheels (SWB/LWB, gear in boot, barwork etc)

While you're there, if the tyre is about the hit the guard and the bumpstop on the top spring mount isn't touching the pad on the diff measure the distance between so you can extend the bumpstops as well.