[Teracis]

I am sick of listening to my rear shocks getting smashed up by the rear axle so I have a plan.

Plan is to move the rear shocks in FRONT of the rear axle. The way I intend to do this is to first measure the hell out of everything under there for clearances e.t.c. Then fabricate a bar (much like the kind used to lay the shocks over toward the centre of the vehicle) which will be used to move the top mount for the shock forward (and maybe angle it slightly) to line it up correctly with the new bottom mount.

Currently/originally the lower mounts are on the inside of the spring facing backwards.

Once the bar with the top mounts is ready, I'd be removing the shocks (with vehicle on stands e.t.c) then removing the U bolts that hold the axle to the spring, then SWAPPING the lower mounts from left to right and vice versa, while turning them so the lower mount is now facing forward but on the inside of the springs. Doing it all back up and mounting the shocks from this new inside forward mount to the bar that was fabricated and installed on the original top mounts.

Can anyone see any problems with this? Has it been done before? Is it even able to be done?

Thanks in advance. If I do it, while I'm at it I'll put an extra mount point on the top mount bar (each side) for being able to lay the shocks over for ability to easily upgrade to longer shocks for more FLEX!

[atari4x4]

your shocks will get peppered with stones when mounted infront of the diff much like the landcruisers, .i would look at putting some sort of shield on them.

[Teracis]

atari4x4 wrote:

your shocks will get peppered with stones when mounted infront of the diff much like the landcruisers, .i would look at putting some sort of shield on them.

That would be far better than the current damage they are sustaining from the axle. EDIT: I'd be able to build some kind of shield pretty easily anyway. Even a bit of angle or rubber or something, actually rubber would be best because it wouldn't do damage if it bottomed out onto the shield.

Is it doable though?

[atari4x4]

don't know, a sierra person should be able to help.... what is your current set up?

[steak_knife]

Pic's of said smashing??

[Teracis]

atari4x4 wrote:

don't know, a sierra person should be able to help.... what is your current set up?

1990 Sierra, 50mm bodylift, I suspect 50mm suspension lift because it has ironman shocks all round, and the springs look brand new. EDIT: Running 29's

[Teracis]

steak_knife wrote:

:?

Pic's of said smashing??

I'll go take some pics now, I was gonna do it in the morning but why not now, camera has a flash after all!

[Teracis]

Okay here we go.

Right Rear from the front.


Right Rear from the side.


Right Rear from underneath.


Right Rear closeup of damage.


Right Rear Lower Shock Mount


Right Rear Upper shock mount.


Both Upper shock mounts.


There you go, I can explain again what I plan to do to remedy the problem, but if you take a look at the lower shock mount, it should be interchangeable between sides of the vehicle which would effectively let me turn them around so that the stub would point forward. This should allow the shocks to clear the axle if the upper mount point can be moved forward as well.

EDIT: Apologies for the crap shots!

[shandy92]

mate it looks like ur diff has been moved back but the top shock mount hasnt changed, making the shock lean forward (towards the front). i dont own a sierra so cant go have a look, but im sure someone else will comment.

do u know if the diff has been moved back?

[atari4x4]

just chop the outer steel upper dust boot off the shocks, it has been damaged by the brake line bracket.

[Teracis]

shandy92 wrote:

mate it looks like ur diff has been moved back but the top shock mount hasnt changed, making the shock lean forward (towards the front). i dont own a sierra so cant go have a look, but im sure someone else will comment.

do u know if the diff has been moved back?

NFI, I'd need some measurements from front diff to back or something to work it out. All I know is there's SFA clearance for the shocks so I wanted to put them in front, I don't think the diff would hit the tank though, we jacked it up with a highlift trolley jack straight under the diff this afternoon and nothing hit.

Anyone able to post some measurements/take some to let me work out how far out of stock mine is?

[Teracis]

atari4x4 wrote:

just chop the outer steel upper dust boot off the shocks, it has been damaged by the brake line bracket.

Yeh, I worked that out, but I don't want it happening again, I should have also taken a pic of the rear of the shock, it's been rubbing on the fuel tank and the brake lines too...

[alien]

hitting the fuel tank?! wtf? lol

looks like you got longer leaves - the shackle angle is quite shallow and like shandy92 said, the diff moved back. Not a bad thing for driving, infact its a great thing - but yeah, the shocks fouling kinda sucks.

you can take the u-bolts, rotate 180degrees and swap sides with them - this would put the shock on the front of the diff, but then you have a new problem in mounting the top end as theres no crossmembers up there.

[Fatzook]

Teracis wrote:

Even a bit of angle or rubber or something, actually rubber would be best because it wouldn't do damage if it bottomed out onto the shield.

Is it doable though?

Rubber will act as an insulator, trapping heat in the shock which will increase the likely hood of failure on longer offroad trips.

[Fatzook]

Buy or make something like this


And weld them to the back face of the axle tubes with the pin facing towards the fuel tank, but ON TOP of the diff ( so invert them ).

Then bolt on one of these...


And the job is done.

[alien]

where are they made? lol

[Fatzook]

alien wrote:

where are they made? lol

China

[Teracis]

alien wrote:

hitting the fuel tank?! wtf? lol

looks like you got longer leaves - the shackle angle is quite shallow and like shandy92 said, the diff moved back. Not a bad thing for driving, infact its a great thing - but yeah, the shocks fouling kinda sucks.

you can take the u-bolts, rotate 180degrees and swap sides with them - this would put the shock on the front of the diff, but then you have a new problem in mounting the top end as theres no crossmembers up there.

This is exactly what I was talking about doing. To solve the upper mount issue, I'll get my old man to fab me up a bar like the one in the top of this pic.

Lowrange Kit Pic

That's not the pic I was trying to find, one of the lads had a really good one posted on here the other day (think it was purple) but can't find it again now.

Anyhow you get the idea, that bar only moves them in, I'd make one that moved them forward or in and forward.

EDIT: I spent so long looking for those pics you beat me to it Fatzook!

[zuk_244]

I had the same problem with mine (even thought its SPOA). The fact that you have fatter then standad shocked and that the lifted springs will move the diff back abit further under compression makes the diff and shock closer together, which causes the brake line mounts to damage the shock when the axle twists under load.

To fix this i
unscrewed the little mounting clips on the copper brake line,
then cut the lower weld on the little steel mount (on the diff), folded them over so they were more on top of the diff
then welded the mount back on
and screwed the lines back to the brackets.

This give about 10mm more clearance from the diff, which was enough for mine. you might need shocks with rubber shrouds instead of the metal one you have.

Hope that makes sense, i can take some photos of the finished result is ya want.

[Fatzook]

Teracis wrote:

EDIT: I spent so long looking for those pics you beat me to it Fatzook!

Took me 5 mins

[Teracis]

zuk_244 wrote:

I had the same problem with mine (even thought its SPOA). The fact that you have fatter then standad shocked and that the lifted springs will move the diff back abit further under compression makes the diff and shock closer together, which causes the brake line mounts to damage the shock when the axle twists under load.

To fix this i
unscrewed the little mounting clips on the copper brake line,
then cut the lower weld on the little steel mount (on the diff), folded them over so they were more on top of the diff
then welded the mount back on
and screwed the lines back to the brackets.

This give about 10mm more clearance from the diff, which was enough for mine. you might need shocks with rubber shrouds instead of the metal one you have.

Hope that makes sense, i can take some photos of the finished result is ya want.

Cheers bloke, I was planning to do it without having to weld anything onto the diff e.t.c. Making it all bolt on makes it easier to put back (or do again if I had to change diff for some reason)

Is there any reason you shouldn't move shocks infront of the axle? Also Fatzook by rubber shield, I was meaning something hanging down infront like a mudflap to deflect the stones e.t.c. Although that said, a few little stones won't do as much damage as they've already sustained!

[Teracis]

Fatzook wrote:

Teracis wrote:

EDIT: I spent so long looking for those pics you beat me to it Fatzook!

Took me 5 mins

Yeh but you knew what you were looking for :p

Either way thanks for the info, is there any reason you know of that I can't just use the lower mounts I already have?

[zuk_244]

id take the shock and hold it in place where you are thinking of mounting it. Just try to see if its going to foul up on anything and where you might have to install the brackets.
As long as its clear of your exhaust etc i cant think of any reason it wouldnt work.

[Teracis]

zuk_244 wrote:

id take the shock and hold it in place where you are thinking of mounting it. Just try to see if its going to foul up on anything and where you might have to install the brackets.
As long as its clear of your exhaust etc i cant think of any reason it wouldnt work.

This i what I was thinking, only thing I was wondering is will it mess with the way the thing drives?

[zuk_244]

Doubt it will change much. Another option is to get some Doeschtech Shocks from Low Range Off Road and just run them upside down. I havent done it myself but you can run them inverted and they only have a stem on the upper end, no metal shroud to get mashed up.

Shoudnt cost too much with the US Dollar the way it is.

[Teracis]

zuk_244 wrote:

Doubt it will change much. Another option is to get some Doeschtech Shocks from Low Range Off Road and just run them upside down. I havent done it myself but you can run them inverted and they only have a stem on the upper end, no metal shroud to get mashed up.

Shoudnt cost too much with the US Dollar the way it is.

Yeh but that money would be better spent on transfer case gears.


Especially when I can just move the shocks for free!

[shep]

cut the shroud off and turn the shock upside down. the shock wont work properly but
luckily it wont make a difference on a sierra.

[Fatzook]

Teracis wrote:

Fatzook wrote:

Teracis wrote:

EDIT: I spent so long looking for those pics you beat me to it Fatzook!

Took me 5 mins

Yeh but you knew what you were looking for :p

Either way thanks for the info, is there any reason you know of that I can't just use the lower mounts I already have?

The problem with the current position of the shock mount is that its behind and below the axle tube. Due to the springs you have, the upper mount is above the axle tube. So when the suspension is compressed, the bottom shock mount is moving up and back, causing the shock to strike the axle housing.

You can't move the top mounts back, because the shocks will then hit the fuel tank.

But if you move the lower mounts up, this will place them above the obstacle that they need to clear ( axle tubes).

Sorry if thats not the best explanation, but you will need to do some work to solve this problem.

Alternatively, if you are keen to try running them in front of the diff, just take off the sandwich plates (plate with the shock studs welded to them) and swap them from left to right.

[alex]

shep wrote:

cut the shroud off and turn the shock upside down. the shock wont work properly but
luckily it wont make a difference on a sierra.

i think there is a brand that makes shocks that are spose to go upside down.

[Teracis]

Fatzook wrote:

Teracis wrote:

Fatzook wrote:

Teracis wrote:

EDIT: I spent so long looking for those pics you beat me to it Fatzook!

Took me 5 mins

Yeh but you knew what you were looking for :p

Either way thanks for the info, is there any reason you know of that I can't just use the lower mounts I already have?

The problem with the current position of the shock mount is that its behind and below the axle tube. Due to the springs you have, the upper mount is above the axle tube. So when the suspension is compressed, the bottom shock mount is moving up and back, causing the shock to strike the axle housing.

You can't move the top mounts back, because the shocks will then hit the fuel tank.

But if you move the lower mounts up, this will place them above the obstacle that they need to clear ( axle tubes).

Sorry if thats not the best explanation, but you will need to do some work to solve this problem.

Alternatively, if you are keen to try running them in front of the diff, just take off the sandwich plates (plate with the shock studs welded to them) and swap them from left to right.

This is what I'm talking about doing. I understand now why they are hitting (especially from your explanations) and as you've said if I swap the sandwich plates I'll move the bottom mounts forward, I'm also talking about fabbing a bar (like you posted a pic of) that brings the top mounts forward to be directly above the bottom mounts. This should eliminate the crashing with the axle.