[OrrieG]

Just for grins I pulled out my engineering books and could not even find any way to easily calc for a cantilever bolt. I then looked on line and only info I could find was about bent motorcycle shock mount bolts. Most standard engineering applications would have the shock mount right up against the support (with neoprene or plastic rub shim) so there is no cantilever. I am surprised you said the guy builds mud trucks, he should know better. It you look at off road applications the shocks brackets usually have support on each side (not cantilever or moment) so the shear value of the bolt and support can be calculated. This is the second post this week showing a 4 link with that type of connection, so someone, somewhere, is promoting it as the "way to go". I would move the bracket forward and add an angle that catches the other side of the shock, so the shock just has enough room for side shims.