Hi
Just wandering if somebody could measure the fully extended length of a rear shocker from centre of eye mount to center of top bushes.

I am currently fitting new donuts but have always had the problem that when the rear suspension hangs the donut is loose. (not that this has caused any issues)

The car is a roundie with dry suspension and hi los fitted. The current shockers are gabrial redryders, but maybe the wrong ones.

Thanks in advance

Regards

Stock rear shocks are 385 mm extended and 242 mm compressed. Thats from the centre of the eye to the top of the lower rubber (if that makes sence).

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I don't suppose you happen to know the length of common "lowered" shocks?

EDIT: Whoops - these are front numbers Glad you're on the ball GT!

The formatting is horrible but these numbers might help from the Minispares (UK) website, it is from 2004, see the last few lines:
http://www.minispares.com/Articles.aspx?ty=ad&aid=234

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'Lowered' Shocks do vary a little from manufacturer to manufacturer. The The fronts Moriarty has covered ^ (thanks).

In the rears, the only ones I have any info on are Spax, extended are 360 mm and compressed 217 mm, from the centre of the eye, to the top of the lower rubber. It would seem these are 25 mm shorter than the stock units.

It should also be kept in mind that these 'Lowered' ones for the rears are to stop the situation that guna mk1 has:



It has been known that the donuts and / or trumpet can fall out when this happens. Not nice after a hard righty!

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My gabrials measure 410 extended and 270 compressed and odviously the cause of my problem.

Would it be reasonable to expect the donut to stay tight with a standard length shock and a reasonable ride height (not extremely low) or should i go for short stroke shockers straight away.

Thanks GT for your replies

Regards

mine has this issue too, and i asked the forum about it once and was told it was fairly common...

my rear is what i would say a good standard height... my front will be raised to match soon as i reckon it's too low at the front...

trying not to drag off topic.. is loose rear donuts common and/or normal and/or safe/unsafe??

Those measurements sound like rear Van / Big Wheel Moke Shocks, they are longer as they have a higher ride height (longer trumpets).

With stock parts and in good condition, yes, they should have some tension on them from the donut when jacked up. A new stock donut has a height of 87 mm. Have a good look at your donuts to see that they are not in fact pancakes!

Another cause is if someone has trimmed the trumpet to lower the ride height.

and......your welcome



It could be described as not un-common and yes, it can be unsafe, but usually only when the donut gets very flat. Personally, I don't like them when if you jack it up it caome away from the subframe more than about 3 mm. Depending on what the car is for, I'd either replace the donuts or go for the lowered shocks.

For most road cars, you should not have it so low as to require lowered shocks (assuming the donut is not flattened).

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