Shock height ?

[1986series6]

I'm changing the rears from hd to sport. I want to raise the ride height about 3/4 inch higher. The shaft on the sport is

about 1/2 inch shorter than the hd. It seems to me that if I put the ring the same distance from the bottom of the hd shock

to the sport, the car will be lower by about 1/2 inch. The spring will push the shaft all the way out and the total will be 1/2

inch shorter. So, if I place the ring higher, the spring will be stiffer and still push the shaft all the way out. If the ring is

lower, the spring will have less tension, and the shaft will still be all the way out. I know that the weight of the car will

compress the spring somewhat. But all things being equal, I don't see how it will make a difference. I know that it will, but

I'll be damned but I can't see it. Is it that the ring in a higher position causes the spring to have more tension and the weight

of the car won't push down as far as in a lower position. Also, will the ride be more stiff with the ring in the higher position.

Please someone straighten me out on this. At my age you'd think I could figure this out.

Thanks to all for enlightenment and criticism.

Bob V498742498743498744498745

[LB66383]

I'm not sure I completely follow your logic, but I think there's a flaw in it somewhere. Yes, the spring will push the shaft all the way out, and it will be a half inch shorter. But that is only off the car. When it is on the car and the car is on the ground, the spring and shock will be compressed by the weight of the car. The spring compresses the same amount as it did before you took it off. For example, with everything installed and the car sitting on the ground, the spring top to bottom distance was 8 inches. It will be essentially the same with the new shock. The height of the car is dependent on the distance between the retainer ring and the bottom shock mount. So, if you put the retainer ring on the Sport shock at the same distance from the bottom as it was on the HD, the car will sit at the same height as before. By moving the retainer ring up the shock, you will be raising the rear of the car, which appears to be your goal.

It is curious that you are going to the sport shock and want to raise the car. Sport shocks are really intended to work with shorter, stiffer springs that lower the car. By using a shorter shock with stock springs, and then trying to raise the spring and car, you are getting to the upper limit of the shock. There will be little or no rebound/extension left. If the wheel goes into a pothole, the shock will reach its full extension and essentially then that whole corner of the car falls in the pothole rather than the suspension absorbing it.

[1986series6]

I failed to mention that I used the hd with the lower springs. Yes, of course, the car weight compresses the spring a lot more than I was thinking, and the compressed spring will always be the same height.

Thanks LB you've made my morning.