Bilstein shock travel on second gen

[Skip Fix]

Been a few months since I pulled the old dead KYBs off the 81 car so I forgot how much travel there was.

Just putting some Bilsteins on this weekend and the rear can drop 2.5" hanging on the sway bar no weight on the axle, until it lifts off the jack stand using the spring. The shock has only 0.5" from full extension to weight bearing. So it could only separate 0.5" from standing ride height. Now it isn't a drag car needing separation for weight transfer but that sounds a little tight to me that could bottom-or top out may be more correct -the shock. Correct Bilstein numbers for the car and factory rear springs that actually have a hair less arch than my 78's original springs do, and way less than the 79 Camaro's 5 leaf springs.

I know A bodies the shocks are what limit travel but a whole lot more than the spring bearing weight.

[Skip Fix]

Length seems to be real close to all the shocks I can look up Bilstein circle track, KYBs and even Monroe Matics. Sure seems it would top out the shock going over a rise and unload the suspension though.

[marolf101x]

You want as close to 5 inches of suspension travel as you can get.
Ideally the shock would be set up so it has the same stroke as the desired suspension travel with 60% of the available stroke used for compression and 40% for extension.
So if you had a 5" stroke shock you would have 3" of shaft showing when installed at ride height.

[Skip Fix]

Thanks Britt. Still weird all the shocks for this car are the same length as these and they are all listed at close to 5" travel yet really close to weight bearing at full extension. Maybe the springs not having weight for 3 months took a little more arch and new bushings will settle back down.

Although some old C-E adjustable drag shocks are 2" longer and have more travel also.