Having Shock Problems - I think ??

[67camaro972]

Installed the DSE mini tub kit on 67 Camaro of mine. Think eithor the shocks are not long enuff, or i mounted the upper shock crossmember to high or who knows... Thier the shocks DSE sells expecially for thier mini-tub kits susposivly. All i know is if i jack it up and put it on stands on the rear frame rails to where the rear end is hanging down completely unloaded. Did this when i took the rear end out to get the perches welded up perminant. When i went to take the shocks off the rear end droped another inch or so. Now ive got the rear end back up in the car, installed. Still have the shocks hangin down not attached yet. and its a good inch i need the rear end to go up to get the mounting hole's for the shocks to line up... Make sense ?? Or are the shocks that way to limit the amount of travel the rear end has downward??? i could easily drop it back on the ground and load the axle springs back up, i know they'd go in then, just asking a ? before i get any further. Any help advise questions concerns be appreactated. thanks, Jr/.

[GetMore]

I don't know if that's a problem on that car or not, but on some cars the shock is the travel limiter on droop.
I'd be more concerned about how much compression travel there is. If the shock can bottom out I'd worry. If there is not enough room for the axle to travel before coming close to the end of the shock's range I'd suspect you have them mounted too high.
Measure the distance from the axle to the metal part of the bump stop, or to the frame, whatever will stop the upward travel. Then measure the distance from the shock mounting plate to the bushing retainer of hte shock, with the shock compressed. If they are close, with just a hair more room for the shock I'd say you are good.

[The WidowMaker]

dont be concerned with the rear in full droop. put it to its ride height and measure the shock from eye to eye. as long as that is within manufactures spec, youre good to go.

for example; im running the varishock 615's in the back and for a 40/60 compression/rebound setup, they need to be ~14.5" in length. the shorter this is the less compression i have, the longer the more compression.

also, dont let your rear droop all the way to the shocks limit if you can control it. the rear is pretty heavy, and thats a lot of weight for the shocks to support at full extension.

Tim

[jpdeuce]

It is typical for the shocks to hold up the rear just a little when fully unloaded. Jack the rear just enough and reinstall the shocks. Then measure to see how much the rear rises to lift off the stands. Then you can measure how much stroke you have to bottom out the shocks at ride height. Those are the critical numbers.