Shock mounting? Does it make a difference.

[kmboren]

I am getting ready to install new to me shocks and was wondering if it made a difference if the Body of shock was mounted to the
axles or to the body of the rig. I was curious if one had a advantage over the others.

 

[skippy]

I am getting ready to install new to me shocks and was wondering if it made a difference if the Body of shock was mounted to the
axles or to the body of the rig. I was curious if one had a advantage over the others.

It depends on the type of shock, some if you mount them upside down they will not work post up whats shocks you have and we can help you figure it out

 

[kmboren]

I have 2 Rancho 9000xl for the front and 2 Bilstien 5100s for the rear. They are a XJ. 7 inches of lift with 35 krawlers. 44 axles front and rear Wtith heavy off-road bumpers front an and rear also.

 

[jinxspot]

My Rancho 9000's were air adjusted in the cab and could be mounted either direction. Mine were mounted with the shock body pointed up and piston mounted to the axle.

Not sure about the Bilsteins if they are reversable, but mine on my yota are monted with the shock body pointed up and the bare piston to the axle.

 

[Mcamish01]

Monotube shocks, such as bilsteins can be mounted body up or down; cheaper, multi-tube shocks must be mounted body down. You should be fine mounting what you've got however you want, its really just a packaging and preference issue.


Barclay

 

[kmboren]

It sounds like I could mount mine either way but s there an advantage to do it one way or the other? Or do the shock react the same no matter what way they are mounted?

 

[mesha]

It should not not a difference.

 

[UNSTUCK]

Is the valving the same for compression and rebound on these types of shocks

 

[Bear T]

RS9000's are a twin tube design and must be mounted body side down or the the valving will not work properly. Most bilsteins are designed to be mounted body up.

Most shocks are valved around a 60/40 or 70/30. So if you mount them in the wrong position, you will not get the proper damping from the shock.

 

[UNSTUCK]

Thats what I was thinking. I have bilsteins on my jku. The fronts are body side down and the rears are body side up.???

 

[I Lean]

Compression is compression, rebound is rebound no matter if you're right side up or upside down.

But yeah, in general twin-tube shocks need to be body down, monotube (if it has an internal floating piston separating the gas from the oil) can go either way.

 

[mesha]

Oh man! I missed the rs9000 and only saw the 5100. The 9000s will need to be mounted body down. Sorry about that.

 

[kmboren]

Thanks for all the replies. I mounted both of them body down on the axle. On the ranchos it actually has an arrow stating mount this side up. They were dirty and I did not see that. Sounds like I can do the bilstiens either way though.