rear shock extenders

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Mark Keefer

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I have a set of rancho shocks on my 04 sport trac but after adding a leaf in the back for towing purposes, I lost 2" in the shocks so I was wondering if anyone knows if they make extenders or if I will have to have them made? I would just get a rancho set for an F-150 but the top ends bolt on differently.
 
Yardsale is correct.



You may be interested in these, though, if you're still concerned. They can be made for stock ride height or 2" lift.



 
They sell longer shocks for the lifted ST.



Todd Z
 
Those skid plates are nice.



He didn't lift it; he raised it. Technically, a lift has the same affect as the add-a-leaf, or better put, has the same non-affect of changing the amount of travel. Only new springs or shackles that change the amount of travel will warrant different travel shocks.



One has to be careful of raising the shock bottom (compressing the shock) if there has been no change to the amount of travel. This can create a shock bottom-out condition (not enough compression left in the shock and it bottoms-out before the suspension does). When this happens, things tend to break.
 
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ok I tried to read everyones posts but its better if I just explain my truck. I replaced my factory shocks that were shot when I rebuilt my truck to rancho. Since then I added a leaf that sent the shocks extending 2". The ride is alright when I go straight but in my area when your bouncing side to side the damn truck bounces left to right like crap. All I am looking to do is get a new set of rancho shocks that are a little longer and bolt on the same OR find/make extenders long enough to compensate the 2" I lost. I prefer rancho as the shocks on my other truck ride like crap.

 
Know exactly how much you need if you feel you have to get longer shocks. You don't want to guess on this. Bottoming out your shock (because it's too long) is much worse than your shock acting as a limiting strap. Of course, you could add a larger bumpstop to prevent that.



Disconnect your shocks from the axle mounts. Lift from the frame until the tires start to lift. Extend the shocks to the mounts. If they reach, you don't need new shocks, or may want a very slightly longer shock. If it doesn't, measure how much it's short. That's the extra length you'll need.



I suspect your poor ride can be attributed to more than your shocks. How are your body mounts? Sway bar bushings?



I have an add a leaf and Rancho RS5000 for stock length in the rear. Haven't had an issue and get plenty of droop with the 35s.



<a href="http://s1192.photobucket.com/user/hughdarnley/media/Sport%20Trac/Durhamtown%209-12/60142_10101600935594080_1205482981_n.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa332/hughdarnley/Sport%20Trac/Durhamtown%209-12/60142_10101600935594080_1205482981_n.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 60142_10101600935594080_1205482981_n.jpg"/></a>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/-zsws7-NL-U" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 
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Our collective point is that you haven't lost anything. Based on the information you have provided, there is no change to the amount of travel. The only change is the ride height (that two inches you note), but that is simply two inches of wheel down travel you have used to compensate for added weight when towing. The total amount of wheel travel is the same. Therefore, stock length and travel shocks are what you need. They can be any brand and type you want (as long as they have the correct mount).



As far as the quality if the ride, you now have stiffer suspension because of that added leaf; it's going to bounce some. If you have an aftermarket (stiffer) anti-sway bar, you can replace that with the original.
 
Thanks for the tips guys. if this wasn't an everyday truck I would make it look like yours Hugh. looks good. I under stand the stiffer ride part. I replaced my rear in December 2013 as the vehicle I parted for my truck had a rear that had 265000 miles on it. At that time when I had to reconnect the shocks I had to lift the differential up about 2" maybe not even, till I could bolt them on. (shocks did compress when the truck was lowered from the jack) What I am looking at is like an independent suspension type bounce. I know the generation I have done not have that set up. I have drove about 5 of these trucks around over the years and they all had similar wobbling. What I was thinking was is that when (I hit the rough streets where it annoys me) the truck leans to the right the left rear (or other way around) shock doesn't have enough expansion and maxes out. That's what I feel is the issue. best example I could say is like a piece of wood being sea sawed back and forth.



I mean if I have to live with it I will as it sounds like I will since the springs play a role in it



For the record my truck is all stock except for the extra leaf
 
oh and I forgot to mention I had this same problem actually worse before the leafs when I had a set of OEM shocks that were blown out. wobbled all over the place. Only at that time it was b/c the shocks were blown The rancho shocks did the trick that's what making me this I might that they are like a size to short.
 
I had a similar issue until I replaced the body mounts about a month ago. The frame, suspension and body were all going their own way it seemed. Around bends or on bumps, I could feel the suspension settle, the frame get still and then the body would rock into place. Hard to describe that feeling; maybe someone else knows what I'm talking about.



Anyway, could it possibly be your body mounts? Or could they at least be playing a part in that?



Of course, as far as parts go, shocks aren't all that expensive, so trial and error wouldn't be disastrous if you tried an extended Rancho. If it fixes your problem, great. If not, sell them at a slight loss and find another solution.



I would just really worry about compression on a longer shock. You're still going to have the same up travel as stock so you want to make sure you aren't bottoming out the shock and destroying it. Larger bumpstops could prevent that, though.
 
I dont think the body mounts are an issue i check them once recently as my truck make a clunk noise when you turn and twist the frame. Example if u go on a fourty five angle driving up on a curb. I havent herd it lately but more so when you drive in the rain. Havent figured it out for last 3 yr. think it is somethin wit the suspension since the lower half came from a roll over truck. I think i will fab. A bracket and try that i have pieces of steel laying in my garage. If that works i will check into different shocks.
 
Perhaps you have the wrong shocks now. Double check. If they are wrong (too short), then you need the correct length and travel for the stock application.
 
yardsale, they are the correct shocks. There is actually a sewer grate in front of my home that I sometimes park on and it twist my truck so the one shock has to be fully or close to the total expansion so the wheel will still sit on the ground.

 
That test seems scientific enough. Just for kicks, how about measuring things or contacting a shock manufacturer for their shock measurements.
 
bounces left to right like crap.





That could also be the major change in the sway bar. After the 2'' height change.
 
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