Tundra Rear Suspension Question

MKYOTA · #1 (**permalink**) 04-20-2008, 05:42 PM

Is there a reason why the shocks on the rear of my Tundra are oriented in opposite directions, other than the gas tank is in the way? Would it hurt anything if both shocks were turned towards the rear of the truck?

Thanks in advance

Imdone · #2 (**permalink**) 04-20-2008, 10:09 PM

They are like this on all rear solid axle leaf sprung trucks. this provides better handling.

MKYOTA · #3 (**permalink**) 04-21-2008, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imdone

They are like this on all rear solid axle leaf sprung trucks. this provides better handling.

Like what??? I asked two questions....

apimpdad · #4 (**permalink**) 04-21-2008, 05:07 PM

I have heard that it helps reduce axle wrap, but I'm not sure if thats true. F-250s come with both shocks on the rear of the axle.

Imdone · #5 (**permalink**) 04-21-2008, 05:45 PM

It likely would depend on the springs. I have read a couple things that offsetting the shocks going in opposite directions it provides better handling.

As for would it hurt, probably not, I guess it would depend on what springs you are using and if the wrap would cause issue.

I have seen several trucks that have been modified to have the shocks come straight up or go at an angle from outter of the axle to a location centered on the frame under the bed or even ones that go through the bed and are on a bar in the box.

What are you looking to do???

You asked a kind of specific question in a real general way.

What do you plan to do with the truck? Why are you even thinking about moving the shocks? What benefit are you thinking you will get by moving the shocks? What's your final outcome?

Give some of these answers and someone here will be able to provide a specific answer to what you are trying to do rather than a general broad answer which you obviously aren't looking for in the first place.

MKYOTA · #6 (**permalink**) 04-22-2008, 06:53 AM

The point is to get more travel out of the shock by putting it at more of an angle (not too extreme just a little more). I dont want to cut through my bed for a longer shock so I am essentially looking for a way to get a 10" travel shock (or more) in there without having it bottom out, while not creating any situation that would be detrimental for my truck.... Straight up would only make it worse. Centering them as you speak of is better if you do alot of crawling and I have given it thought but that setup seems like it would cause the shocks to bind. Actually I was looking for more of a general answer which I got. I dont want to ask 20 questions about a set up if its not the route I want to take (obviously due to axle wrap its a bad idea) and I would be better off w/ one foreward and one backward. Thanks for your answers.

DevinSixtySeven · #7 (**permalink**) 04-22-2008, 12:13 PM

Look at Bilstein's short body 10" 7100.

Imdone · #8 (**permalink**) 04-22-2008, 04:11 PM

If you're not blocking the springs then you shouldn't run into axle wrap issues. however, by angling the shock more to get a longer extension, you are going to loose some of it because of the increased angled. The leaf springs are going to droop the same but the shock will droop out at a different angle so you will use more length but you will have to plan this out to get more droop because of the angles.

If you have good springs with a heavy double eyelet front wrap you shouldn't have any issues with axle wrap.