isaac338

I know this topic has been beat well past death but I've been searching and I need some clarification..

I'm going to install BJ spacers this week or next week and I'm wondering, do I need to buy longer front shocks?

It'll be on a stock 1994 pickup, with as far as I know stock shocks. I guess I could space the shocks down with some washers on the stud, from what I read, but that depends on how much thread is exposed (and how rusty it is).

Can anyone who's done this install on a stock 89-95 pickup tell me if they needed to install new shocks?

Thanks,

Isaac

AxleIke

Here is a suggestion.

Put in the spacers, attach your old shocks. Jack the truck up until the arms can go to full droop. Once that is done, look to see if you're upper A-arm is hitting the bumpstop.

If it is, then you don't need new shocks.

If not, then you need longer shocks.

However, as long as you don't go immedately out and take it offroad where you'll be lifting tires off the ground, you'll be fine driving normally on the road with the too short shcoks. You can then buy longer travel shocks at your convinence.

isaac338

That's what I needed to hear - that was my original plan, but I was concerned about breaking a shock or shock mount. This truck is my daily driver and I'll be doing the install at a friend's garage half an hour away (read: I'm driving home after the install whether it's working or not).

AxleIke

yeah, you won't damage the shocks at all as long as you don't go to full droop should they happen to be too short. If they are, you are just fine driving on road until you can get a longer shock.

Bear80

You can go to autozone and pick up a set of shock tab extenders. I used these extenders when I was working with my Rancho arms. I ended up cutting some length off the shock stud and then putting the extender on. All you need to do is unload your t-bar, flex the arms up and down and see how much length you need to add while still able to fully compress. Then cut and add the extenders as needed.

curly_c

i just installed shocks on my truck in the front finally. they are rancho 5000s and it does make a pretty decent difference compared to the stock ones. but if you drive on the road alot then they are not needed right away. buying rear shocks is a must in my mind though.