Shorter rear shocks for my 97 Tahoe

[61_FL_Apache]

Im looking for 2-4" shorter than stock rear shock for my Tahoe.

Does anyone have something they have used before?

Thanks!

[61_FL_Apache]

Let me rephrase the question. If I only lower the truck 2", do I need shorter shocks?

When I search sites like Summit and Jegs, they mostly list OE shocks for a 2" drop.

[S10Fan]

Watching this, I'm interested in over the counter shocks (rear) for my Yukon.

[61_FL_Apache]

I tried contacting Monroe about this and they didnt help much... They said "we dont carry shocks for lowered trucks." I found a huge list of all their shocks and it had the measurements and mounting styles for both ends. I went thru the entire list and only found one shock one inch shorter.

Sure I can go the Belltech route, but im on a budget and dont need that much performance yet..

[spf1268]

If you are going to lower the rear 2" and are worried about bottoming out the stock length shocks, how about buying some shock extenders? Like the Belltech 6652's?

[Tom]

Shock extenders. /thread.

[61_FL_Apache]

Originally Posted by spf1268

If you are going to lower the rear 2" and are worried about bottoming out the stock length shocks, how about buying some shock extenders? Like the Belltech 6652's?

I have thought of this too. My shocks are 10+ years old and think its time to replace them. The Belltech 6652's I found are over $70. I can get a decent pair of shocks for that price.

I dont think with a 2" drop and removing the bump stops the shocks will bottom out, but I was not sure if they would. I dont want to trash a pair of shocks because they were too long.

[sbeard73]

For the rear the Gabriel Gardian 82003 are the same dimensions as BellTech Nitro shocks $21.00 at AutoZone. These are often used with the DJM-FK1024 flip kit witch is a 5in. drop.

[S10Fan]

Originally Posted by sbeard73

For the rear the Gabriel Gardian 82003 are the same dimensions as BellTech Nitro shocks $21.00 at AutoZone. These are often used with the DJM-FK1024 flip kit witch is a 5in. drop.

Good info thanks!

Looks like this is your first post here, and it's a good one! Welcome to the forum!

[sbeard73]

Originally Posted by S10Fan

Good info thanks!

Looks like this is your first post here, and it's a good one! Welcome to the forum!

Thanks S10Fan for the welcome!

[61_FL_Apache]

Thanks sbeard!!

I wanted to combine the info below with the stock shock and the lowered shock. Hope that also helps who is watching this thread.

Stock Shock Info: Monroe Matic 37085
Compressed Length 14.000"
Extended Length 22.375"
Travel Length 8.375"

Gabriel Guardian 82003
Shock Collapsed Length (in): 11.44
Shock Extended Length (in): 18.55
Stroke Length (in): 7.11

[61_FL_Apache]

Im just now getting back to this and started to swap the shocks and realized the lower mounts are 3" different. I measured the ride height of the old shocks before taking them out and there was a 3" difference. What is up with that?

I checked to see how level my truck is. 1/2" difference at the wheel opening and spot on level at the bottom of the U bolts.

So why is the shock mount so different?

[61_FL_Apache]

Here are some pics of the mounts.

Overall.


Drivers Side


Passenger Side

[Richard]

Originally Posted by 61_FL_Apache

Let me rephrase the question. If I only lower the truck 2", do I need shorter shocks?

When I search sites like Summit and Jegs, they mostly list OE shocks for a 2" drop.

Shorter shocks are not needed unless the bump stop location is raised from stock. This applies at all four corners. Suspension will not move any closer to the frame than the bump stop lowered or raised. I have seen cases where a shorter shock is used and it limits the droop of suspension causing a bad ride. Ran stock length shocks on my 94 with a 5.5/8 drop.

[61_FL_Apache]

I ended up having a bad ride with a stock set I put on this week. To me it felt like they were bottoming out. They were about 1" longer than my old ones.

[sntrym95]

all of the rear 2" drops I've seen just used stock height shocks. Anything over that might require a different shock. It's like putting 600lbs in the back, lowers it a bit but doesn't affect anything else.

[SCOTI]

Take a look & see if the shock stuff is flipped bracketry or if they don't match.

I don't know how much the Tahoes vary vs the trucks in the rear suspension but.... My '99 CC OBS short-bed had similar appearing upper brackets but the shock angles were different on each side. The upper mount on the drivers side was 15" behind the C/L of the rear axle. The pass side upper mount was 19" in front of the rear axle.

If the brackets are different on each side, they might require different length/position lower brackets to get consistent shock travel.

When I did my rear lowering, I punched out the rivets for the pass side upper shock bracket & modified it so I could move it 4" closer to the housing & match the drivers side shock angle. I mention my example only to promote awareness that things aren't necessarily the exact same when comparing sides.

[61_FL_Apache]

Thank you guys for the feedback!

[Redneck Rydes]

I was told if you go 4" and lower,you can use shocks from a 80s up impala and caprice

[Richard]

On a leaf sprung axle it generally moves toward the shackle when traveling up and down. If shocks are staggered front and rear that could explain different mounting points from factory. When doing custom stuff it is always desirable to check all suspension components at full bottom and full droop. Not sure why it is hard to understand, if bump stops are stock a stock length shock is no problem. Installed low profile poly stops on my truck. Still no problem. The rubber ones collapse a lot.

[akdg87]

i just went through this dilemma after swapping in a 14 bolt SF to my lowered k1500 blazer.

used rear shocks from a 2006 chevy colorado. they are about 4 inches shorter overall and bolt right in

911228 monroe.

[61_FL_Apache]

Originally Posted by akdg87

i just went through this dilemma after swapping in a 14 bolt SF to my lowered k1500 blazer.

used rear shocks from a 2006 chevy colorado. they are about 4 inches shorter overall and bolt right in

911228 monroe.

Thank you for the suggestion!

[b454rat]

I had the stock shocks on my Tahoe, and was lowered at least 4". The shocks weren't the problem, it was the bump stops. I trimmed twice, can't remember how much, maybe an inch, since I do pull a small trailer now n then. It rode fine, just on big bumps would hit the stops. The shocks weren't bottoming out either.

[61_FL_Apache]

Originally Posted by b454rat

I had the stock shocks on my Tahoe, and was lowered at least 4". The shocks weren't the problem, it was the bump stops. I trimmed twice, can't remember how much, maybe an inch, since I do pull a small trailer now n then. It rode fine, just on big bumps would hit the stops. The shocks weren't bottoming out either.

My bump stops have been trimmed about as short as you can before hitting metal to metal. I probably left 1/4" above the metal bracket that holds them.

[61_FL_Apache]

I installed the Gabriel 82003 on the rear yesterday and what a nice change that was. The install was a little effort. The T bar needed to be transferred from old to new shock and the lower bolt needed to be a smaller diameter. Both were overcome easily.