new rear diff need different shocks

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yepyep

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hey all I'm having some trouble finding some shocks that will fit my new rear diff it's essentially the same as my stock one except the shock brackets are flipped down instead of on top so the new shocks have to be about 4 in longer anyways I've been to three auto parts stores Napa found one after about 30 minutes but the brackets are wrong and shopping online they don't really say they're full extended length.

I need rear shocks for an '87 V20 or K20 whatever u wanna call it I measured 27 1/2 fully extended from eye hole to eye hole center any help would be greatly appreciated I saw Napa had a book
that listed a bunch of shocks fully extended lengths but I can't find anything online

also im curious if anybody has any idea what this rear end I've got came from it's the same as the stock 410 but the brackets are flipped down under the axle instead of on top of it
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yepyep

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yepyep

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welp this thread hasnt been very active anyways after a lot of research Monroe shock 34521 for a 2004 dodge ram should fit it's extended length is 27.5 in ,compressed is 16.5 The only issue is the travel is 11 in That's roughly two more than stock but I cannot find another shock anywhere that's even close.


Will this extra 2 inches of travel be an issue?

here are the tech specs on both dodge shock first stock second

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Bextreme04

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That looks like a normal 14 bolt semi-float rear and that would be the normal shock mounting location. Is your truck stock ride height?

That axle code is for a 1984-86 C20 3.73 open diff axle. https://www.gmsquarebody.com/threads/squarebody-rear-axle-codes.4185/#post-109673

Why can't you just use the stock shock if its stock ride height? I just bought Tuff Country SX8000 shocks for mine. Your measurements line up with a 61261 part number, which they list for a 2-3" lift. You can order them from ORD here. https://www.offroaddesign.com/catal...77/s/tuff-country-sx8000-shocks/category/548/
 

Bextreme04

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also, I had Monroes on my truck when it was stock height. It rode nice, but the metal shroud on the rear shock snapped a weld from some mild off-roading and it would rattle around really bad... it was super annoying. For the $48/ea, I'd just order the correct Tuff Country shock(and don't forget the shock boot) and use those.
 

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Don't be afraid to cut those brackets off and change them if needed.
 

shiftpro

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That looks like a normal 14 bolt semi-float rear and that would be the normal shock mounting location. Is your truck stock ride height?

That axle code is for a 1984-86 C20 3.73 open diff axle. https://www.gmsquarebody.com/threads/squarebody-rear-axle-codes.4185/#post-109673

Why can't you just use the stock shock if its stock ride height? I just bought Tuff Country SX8000 shocks for mine. Your measurements line up with a 61261 part number, which they list for a 2-3" lift. You can order them from ORD here. https://www.offroaddesign.com/catal...77/s/tuff-country-sx8000-shocks/category/548/

Full float.
 

Bextreme04

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Full float.

Its really hard for me to tell from the angle, but it looked like a semi-float cover and pinion area. A direct pic from the rear or wheel side would tell for sure, but that doesn't look like a FF from the angle he gives. Most 3/4 ton trucks in the later 80's had semi-float. The 1 ton and heavy GVW 3/4 tons had the full floater.
 

yepyep

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That looks like a normal 14 bolt semi-float rear and that would be the normal shock mounting location. Is your truck stock ride height?

That axle code is for a 1984-86 C20 3.73 open diff axle. https://www.gmsquarebody.com/threads/squarebody-rear-axle-codes.4185/#post-109673

Why can't you just use the stock shock if its stock ride height? I just bought Tuff Country SX8000 shocks for mine. Your measurements line up with a 61261 part number, which they list for a 2-3" lift. You can order them from ORD here. https://www.offroaddesign.com/catal...77/s/tuff-country-sx8000-shocks/category/548/


ok heres some more pics hopefully this helps and thats not the normal mounting position for my v20 my old alxe had the brackets on top of the axle this one the shock extends below the axle hence the sizing issue I have a set of stock shocks that just don't fit. does anybody have any thoughts on the travel issue that I brought up? Will those dodge shocks work?

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i should also add ive regeared the rear diff to a 4.10 I started with two axles The one in my truck the 410 original was too rusty to save this one (3.73) has the same case so I swapped gears and now I have a nice 410 rear end but my shock brackets are in the wrong spot and to the guy that said don't be afraid to cut them off i might just do that if i cant figure this out
 
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Bextreme04

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yep, semi-floater. In those pics it is easier to see how they are not the original shock brackets. It is not uncommon to cut off and reweld shock brackets. If you have a welder and a cutoff wheel you can easily just cut off the brackets and move them over from the old axle to the new one. There is no telling if the dodge ones would work. Again, the ones I listed would work for the measured lengths you gave.
 

yepyep

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yep, semi-floater. In those pics it is easier to see how they are not the original shock brackets. It is not uncommon to cut off and reweld shock brackets. If you have a welder and a cutoff wheel you can easily just cut off the brackets and move them over from the old axle to the new one. There is no telling if the dodge ones would work. Again, the ones I listed would work for the measured lengths you gave.


**** i scraped the other rear diff ill have to make some if the dodge shocks dont fit ill also order the ones you suggested if they dont fit ill just return them
 
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shiftpro

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Its really hard for me to tell from the angle, but it looked like a semi-float cover and pinion area. A direct pic from the rear or wheel side would tell for sure, but that doesn't look like a FF from the angle he gives. Most 3/4 ton trucks in the later 80's had semi-float. The 1 ton and heavy GVW 3/4 tons had the full floater.
I was wrong, you are right. Look at the pic below. It just looked so angular to my eyes.
 

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