shock mounting on steering arm?

troutbum

cubi-kill
Location
SLC
there have been a couple threads on Pirate where guys have mounted airshocks or c/o on the highsteer arm. Consensus was this was cool and would not hurt the shocks??
I always thought it seemed sketchy but I am running out of room fast for mounting on the tubes.
1-anyone done it?
2-I assume the shock would need to mounted inline and not raked at all?
3-Reason this would be bad?
 

RockMonkey

Suddenly Enthusiastic
Well, if I'm thinking correctly, you would be putting less stress on the ball joints or kingpins. All the weight of the rig would be going directly through the knuckle, rather than being transferred through the joints to the axle tube. I'd say you just need to be very careful not to max out the movement of the coilover/airshock mounting joint through the whole movement of the suspension and through the entire steering range. If you exceed the angle of the joint it is pretty easy to break the end of the coilover/airshock, or bend the shaft.
 

Shawn

Just Hanging Out
Location
Holly Day
I really don't like the idea. I figure it would put most stress on the steering. The entire weight of the front is now on the knuckles. It is bad enough that we have to go hydro assist without doing that....
 

troutbum

cubi-kill
Location
SLC
Shawn said:
I really don't like the idea.
yeah I hear you...I can't quite put my finger on why though.

On the steering part, isn't all the weight always on the knuckles? either through the tubes to the kingpin, or straight to the kingpin. Seems like it is all held up by the knuckles?
 

Shawn

Just Hanging Out
Location
Holly Day
What I have seen for alternititves (sp) is making a bracket that welds to the tube and follows up the "C" some and allows you to place the shock right next to the knuckle.
 

cruiseroutfit

Cruizah!
Moderator
Vendor
Location
Sandy, Ut
For all the reasons Braden mentioned.. it "could" actually put less force on the actual knuckles (deletes the moment), but unless you can get it centered on the pivot of the steering arm (ie. exactly over the king pin), you are creating a worse moment on the kingpin (though no where near the normal moment a kingpin takes). Interesting concept, any pics?
 

I Lean

Mbryson's hairdresser
Vendor
Location
Utah
I have no problem with setups like this, but I think I've only seen it done on balljoint axles, not kingpin. No reason it wouldn't work with a kingpin, just a little bit more difficult to make the bracket.

My only hesitation would be the close proximity of the tire to the shock. If you can get it to clear at all points it can be a great way to go.

The force it's putting on the knuckle is exactly the same amount of force they'd apply to the axle tube normally, which is then transferred directly to the knuckle via the bottom bearing in the knuckle. Now it's right on top of the knuckle instead of at the bottom.
 
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