Rear shock issue

[capt1black]

Its me again. So I took the advice of the experts and picked up a 1x1 steel tube to mock rear shocks. The passenger goes in perfectly but the driver side does not even go in the Top bracket if I bolt the bottom. See picture.

136676

What did I do wrong? Is there an adjustment I need to do? It is a moser straight axel. Thanks.

[Jeff Kleiner]

The real shocks have rod ends which allow them to pivot top and bottom as the rear end goes through it’s travel. Open up the holes in your temporary mock ups so that the slop will compensate. Adjusting the upper link may help bring it into alignment but you can’t really worry much about that until you have the coil overs and set ride height.

Jeff

[Papa]

Can you share a picture of the shock mounts on the axle? Also, the shocks are able to pivot some via the heim-type eyes and are not rigid. Maybe open up the holes in your mock tubing?

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=84479&d=1524417296

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=84487&d=1524418202

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=84488&d=1524418210

[capt1black]

Thanks Jeff

I was thinking that may be the case but just wanted to make sure I was not screwing something up. Have a great night.

[Papa]

Jeff beat me to it.

[CraigS]

Flip it over. The hole in the top looks to be >1/2 inch. Or use a sledge to smash the lower end together so the two holes touch.

[capt1black]

Thanks guys. A little extra bore on the tube, an adjustment on upper support and all good.

[ggunter]

Well I see shocks mounted in both directions, body up and body down and see them both ways in the manual, if the fronts are mounted body up wouldn’t the rear be the same?

[Papa]

Well I see shocks mounted in both directions, body up and body down and see them both ways in the manual, if the fronts are mounted body up wouldn’t the rear be the same?

If you look at post #3, I originally mounted mine body up like the front, but the springs were really close to the shock brackets. After some discussion (see my build thread starting on post #32 (https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?24916-Papa-s-MKIV-Roadster-Build-9115-(Graduated)&p=285839&viewfull=1#post285839)), I flipped them and they work fine. Note, this is not acceptable for the double-adjustable shocks.

[CraigS]

Backround. In general it is best to mount shocks body up. this way just the rod moves vs the whole shock which will give a better ride. However, only gas pressurized shocks can be mounted this way. W/o the pressure, the oil would drop away from the valving in the upper end of the body and the shock wouldn't work properly. Also, as Papa points out, sometimes fit clearance problems can force body down installation.