What would your thoughts be on a shock with slightly different lengths be? Here are the lengths I am considering : Collapsed 12.3" Extended 18.3" "12 Spring 900lb

Would a shock that lenght still work? I plan on adjusting the shocks to +2.5" to clear 285's.

 

I would figure out what your ride height will be, then look for a shock that has a collapsed length and extended length that is suitable. The most important thing is to make sure that the WORKING length of the shock is in the correct area at ride height.

 

Anyone confirm if this will work on the 1500's?

 

Can we discuss a little bit more about the upper shock mount?? Can it hold as is, or what mods need to be made if any? Gas engine not diesel...

Thanks, i will be looking to do this on my 6" lifted sierra.

 

Upper shock mount in my opinion is plenty strong. if you are gonna go and get 2 foot of air in your trucks than I would build something else.

 

I don't think that is going to hold for long, I work in a 4x4 shop and I have seen 2 different trucks with this mod and they both were tearing the upper shock mounts off the frame, one was a 1500 and one was a 2500. That pro comp bracket is for a shock, not to support the weight of the vehicle. And if i remember correctly the bracket and uppper bolt/stud is grade 8 but the rest of the hardware is only grade 5! Kinda scary if you ask me...

 

Bringing this back up...I really want to do this, but the 1500 4wd LCAs have the clevis style shock mount, and all the coilovers I can find are for eyelet only. Thinking about this logically, there is no safe way to make an adapter for this since both ends would be able to rotate about the bolts holding them together...

So does anyone make a coilover with a clevis lower mount? Or is there an aftermarket LCA with an eyelet mount? If not, it seems like the best thing to do would be to cut off the clevis mount and weld on an eyelet mount like the 2500s.

 

If anyone would know it would prob be Nick over at Nor- Cal truck , they are pretty pop over on the diesel place .

 

I'm sure gusseting the upper shock tower and plating or welding on a thick washer to the top mounting surface would seriously beef up the shock tower with only 1-2 hours, some plate steel, torch, grinder and a welder.

Check out what the GMT400 guys are doing, when their frames start to crack from the weight of a big plow blade:

http://www.plowsite.com/showthread.php?t=48956

I don't know for sure how effective it would be, but it seems like it would help.

 

Why not make a bracket for the 1500 to bolt on over the top??? If not maybe you could grind the area flat and drill and tap it for the 2500 bolt on bracket.

You should not weld on the cast Lower control arms.

I would have to look but Maybe a 1500 HD or 2500 HD arm is the same length and could be swapped in place. A lot of places seem to list it as interchangeable.