rear end hanging from shocks
 

will it break the shocks? I have jack stands under the frame now and no wheels on so the rear end is hanging from the leaf springs. (just put it back in today).

The shocks wont fit unless I jack up the rearend a little. But if I release the jack the weight of the whole rear end is hanging from the shocks. is that a problem?

what happens when you lauch over a train track and get airborne? rear end would be hanging from the shocks at that point as well right :metal::metal:

http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/x...psmxogyixr.jpg

Re: rear end hanging from shocks
 

The suspension will bottom out before the correct shocks are fully extended.

Re: rear end hanging from shocks
 

If that is a concern, you can use limiting straps like off road trucks use.

You can buy them in any length you need

http://www.quadratec.com/products/16...FagWMgodVDgAKQ

Re: rear end hanging from shocks
 

"What happens when you lauch over a train track and get airborne?"

The shocks will top possibly damaging the internal valving, limiting straps may work but its a band-aid approach, finding proper length shocks would be better, they should extend about an inch further than the mounts when hanging by the springs and the body small enough to allow the shocks to compress to about 1/2" shorter than the shock mounts when fully compressed.

Re: rear end hanging from shocks
 

Seems like they should maybe extend a bit longer than that. Not so much what the measurement is when the axle assy is hanging free, but more like how long does the shock need to be when fully articulated. As in off-road, one side fully compressed & the other side fully extended. I'm thinking that might require a longer shock than just the hanging weight of the rear axle.

Not a good description but hopefully gets my point across. I understand we're probably talking about a 2WD truck, but some of us have been known to offroad with a 2WD. ;) And it might ensure the shock is long enough for any circumstance.

Re: rear end hanging from shocks
 

so the answer is: no don't let it hang from the shocks while putting it back together in the shop? Im not going to be 4wheeling. Just a dumb joke at 3am.

Re: rear end hanging from shocks
 

Cars & light trucks with coil springs have been hanging from the shocks for many years. It doesn't seem good but I have never seen it hurt the shocks.