What would be the effect of changing the shock orientation from the angle they are now to more vertical? I assume they are at the angle related to the travel of the swing arm, is that correct?
If so, what would be the affect of making them more vertical than stock… Talking maybe moving the lower connection point about 3-4" forward and raising the top point.
It’s more about leverage. Not so much the actual vertical orientation. Not to ignore the the upper mount either, it is still important in design.
Moving either the upper or lower mount closer to the pivot will make it easier to compress the spring, and make the ride smoother.
You need to plan this carefully as the car is essentially being suspended by the new position of the spring and the mount needs to be able to support the new stress loads. Simply drilling a new hole in the trailing arm 3-4 inches forward is going to be a guaraneed failure. Even a new shock mount on top of the arm will need some truss work underneath.
Picture it like building a bridge.
Thanks… I figured it would make the ride smoother a bit… Right now even with the new batteries in place, (4x63lbs), I am about 210lbs and I can jump on the frame around that area and the shocks barely move. When I load everything up, I was wondering what the new position would do overall.
So the angle isn’t as critical if it is somewhat less? Just need to make sure of the strength of the mounts?
I can make the top mount and the trailing arm mounts plenty strong if I do this. Its the angle thing that bothers me. The trailing arm movement is somewhat of an arc, though very small… so I want to make sure it would still work. I just wish I knew the compression specs on these shocks.
Honestly I have only built one bridge and it was out of wood… ha ha… (true story)… so
If you havent already done so’.you might want to consider reinforcing the rear swing arm. 200-2004 are notirious for cracking at the rear welds where the diagonal scross membrrs mate to the “axle”
Big piece of C-channel slid over the “axle” or some gussets and top & bottom plates work well
Thanks… the previous owner all ready did that… but I have to undo it for what I want to do. Grinder time! ha ha…
My neighbor had those very cracks in his 2 seater. I welded them up and they seem to be doing great. That surprised me that those broke so often.