Shock Issue

I'm replacing the front shocks on a 1970 CJ that has a closed knuckle front and a 2" suspension lift, the old shocks each have a dent from hitting / rubbing the axle stops and the new ones will do the same, the new shocks are Pro Comp ES3000. Mounting the shocks upside down will fix the clearance issue, but I've never done that before, should I just dent the new shocks just enough so they won't rub?

 

Is the interference in the daily driving realm or just with full articulation and steering. If it's a few and far between issue I would lean towards "self clearancing" if it's going to be gnawing at em during the daily cycle then I would see if the valving allows them to flip without compromising ride.
Another option would be to look at the shock mounts and see if they can move around someplace better.

 

I don't know if you can do that, in the old days, 60's, guys would put 90/10 shocks on upside down to hold the front of their Darg Car up longer, but the that was for Racing straight, for a 1'4 mile. Good Luck

 

I'm going to give them a small dent each and and mount them correctly, mounting them upside down may cause problems.

 

When you say axle stops, are you talking about the bump stops or the steering stops on the axle?

My D27 doesn't hit my shocks in any manner with a 2" lift. Something must be installed wrong like your u bolt plates are on opposite sides or something. A picture would help.

 

I put a 4" lift on my jeep and the shocks that I got did the same thing , too big around bottom and the hit the spring so I put them on upside down , the shocks in the directions on the ones that I got can be mounted any direction . I kind of like the idea because the dirt will fall downward away from the seal and maybe last longer , I'm sure at a jeep meet everyone will joke about it though .

 

They hit the steering stops on the axle, not the bolt, but the threaded part of the housing. Two of the spring brackets take 7/16 nuts and two take 3/8 nuts, right now each axle has one of each on them, so I know that's wrong. I just measured the spring plate studs length, 1 3/4 on the small thread and 2" on the large thread, but even with the mixed spring plates, both front shocks hit on front. I think you're right about the spring plates being the wrong ones, I'm wanting to replace them and the U bolts, but am having a hard time finding plates for a 1970, and I'm trying to stay away from Crown or Omix parts. I'm going to hold off on the hammering and continue to look for correct spring plates. Thanks!

 

Not awful hard to have a spring plate made up.

 

Or post a WTB ad.

 

I had a similar problem and installed Bilstein shocks because they promote their "upside down technology", allowing the shock to be mounted "upside down" as a feature.

 

Thanks Craig for posting. I'll take it apart this Week and see what plates I have and go from there, I'll end up repairing or replacing them.

 

I am a big fan of Bilsteins product, I use them on everything I own. But to be fair, any monotube shock can be mounted in an inverted orientation. It's not just Bilsteins, if for whatever reason, you don't want to pay the premium. There's pretty good lower cost shocks from companies like KYB and others.