Hi Guys

Have done a little searching on the subject but figured it was eaiser to ask.

I have an 03 which has been dropped at the rear by 4 inches.
Using hangers and front mounts.

Now question is I intend to fit QA1's but looking at the stock shocks and offering up the QA1's there is very little travel left before they bottom out.
So will this require the lowering of the shock mount on the axle.
I can cut, fabricate & weld if required.
Or modfication to the top mount near the frame instead?

Thanks in advance for any advise.


Ricki UK

 

why not try the strange engineering shocks. The best thing you should do is crawl under the truck and measure the top mount to bottom mount and then shop for shocks with a static range at least 1" longer than the measurement you took

 

check out the SOCAL shock extender's. they are intended to do what you are looking to do and solve your problem. also i think either tim skelton or ruslow has a upper shock mount ( it's a heim joint and new mount that alows for the different angle you will end up with from relocating /extending the shock) try a search i'm sure you will find pic's. i would give you a link but i don't know how(sorry)
also the starnge shock's are a cheap alternative for our application. although not intentionally intended for truck's but they will work. but why skimp there after the mad amount of money you have been spending on the truck lately.
good luck

 

Yeah, do that and send me the QA'1s.
I will look after them for you

 

I called QA1 and had them do a search based on the distance between the center of the top and bottom mounts on my truck. It is also lowered about four inches. Wound up using a camaro shock , which was the right length. Not to worry about weight difference as they all valved the same according to QA1. Have had them on for over 6 months and have had no problems.

 

Whats the correct part number for the QA1's in the rear with a 4" drop? i've searched the forums and found a ton of posts, but cant find a part number for them.

Can anybody help?????


Thanks,
Josh

 

u need shock extenders

 

Hi buddy.

The shocks I have are MU7855P compressed 13" Extended 20.5"
It looks like they will work but reading the instructions I do not have enough travel for compression.
Extending the lower mount a little looks like the way forward.

 

Perfect just what I need.
However it may be quicker for me to fabricate some.
I will use the photo as a guide.

Many thanks for all the assistance guys.

Ricki UK

 

here is another one for reference. should be fairly easy to fab

 

How close to the ground are those shock extenders. I've been thinking about getting them, but I think they might hit the ground with Jersey Pothole filled roads.

How low is the rear of your truck Halflife? I see you have hangers installed, they must suck putting in. I heard they are a nightmare.

 

You must be pally with Bruce aka Fast Gator he posted me the same photo on the AACAT site

Yer I got the same chassis spring mounts but could not fit my Metco mounts
to them so I did a cut and shut and made them into one.

Real fun under the truck with a mini air grinder cutting the heads of those rivets, the last one went down my sleeve @$&(*)@£$%.

I will search for a photo of the modfied chassis mount.

The shock extender and the adjustable roll bar mounts are good.
Where did you get them from - I may just order the bits and done with it.
Raining cats & dogs here - maybe while there ordered I could buy a stick of
silicone mastic in case my rear window decides to leak - Rob may have put a curse on it

 

Let me out it this way: If you go in a hole deep enough to hang them, the freakin extenders will be the least of your problems.

 

Truck is very driveable and not too low at all. I actually wish it was a bit lower. Like Tim said, least of your worries! I live in NY and do not think they will be an issue.
I did not think the hangers where hard at all. Just need a few good friends and the right tools. Titanium bits are a must. I just drilled them out. Most came out without incident. Took me a week of working after work to get it done. I took my time and worked 2 or 3 hours a night and finished the complete drop-front and back, including waiting 2 days for the powder coater.
If I had to do it again, I would and I think I could bang out the rear in 4 or 5 hours including removing the bed and drinking beer. It only took me 20-30 minutes each side once I figured out what I was doing.

I believe I got both the shock extenders and shortened end links from So Cal.

 

Hi Tim. Happy New Year and all that buddy.

Here are the Western Mounts married to the Metco's






Truck with my show 20's on