Rear Shock Question ?

[Rack Man]

Ok...So I just installed a set of stock KYB gas-adjust shocks on my K-10 project.....and I'm not sure if things are right???

My chassis is on jack stands so the axle is just hanging there with no load whatsoever.....I jacked up the axle to compress the leafs so that I could get the shocks installed....The problem came when I began to lift the frame up off the jack stands before the shocks fit into their perches.....I actually had to take a ratchet strap from the frame to axle to get additional compression to get the shock in.....

So the shocks are now in but there is no travel left in the down position...I realize that once it's on the ground with the weight of the chassis and bed on it it will take some pressure off......But I guess I expected to have a little play each way (in the shock) even with the axle just hanging there...

I did install the 1" ORD Zero Rate add a leafs....but that really should not make any difference as the stock KYB shock says it is good for up to a 2" lift?

The KYB's I got are the KG5417...which are 21.5" from center to center of the eyes....All parts houses call this shock out as the correct one for a 70 K-10..

Any advice would be really appreciated

Thanks, Dan

[FormerMember]

How worn are your springs? Stock ones from 1970?

they may have a bit more droop in them, these days.

I would check to see if your springs hit the bump stops before the shock bottoms out.

Other than that, how often with you drop your springs all the way out?

[Stocker]

Dan, those are the exact same shocks (KYB #KG5417) that I am running on the rear of my '72 K20. They are the correct shock for stock application, and I haven't had any issues in several years of use, including limited off-road flexing over waterbars etc. I don't think you'll have a problem. BTW I have stock rear springs + add-a-leafs.

Incidentally, I have 2.5" Softrides up front and needed longer-than-stock front shocks. A shop owner contacted KYB and what they came up with was.... the same rear shock! They work great up there.