Rear shocks

[bearman]

Question is do the rear shocks work better straight up and down or in the stock location. I see 4link and ladder bars the shocks straight up and everything else are at a angle. Give me the reason why I would think the straight up would be better for load transfer. I can see the angle is good for sway and road car. Need a education thanks for the help.

 

[dadsbee]

Think of diagonal bracing holding a wall up... an angled shock on the rear helps keep the springs from rolling sideways when cornering.

 

[69L48Z27]

Typically shock straight up with ladder bars or 4-link are drag racing setups. Not good for much else.

 

[bearman]

Ok so if I'm going to do the 1320 the straight up would be better for traction control and load transfer. Corning will not be I'll be doing.

 

[bearman]

Ok but yet I look at the pro street type and it's straight up. Which I get because of the race look. But the real value is that straight up is best in the race and is a great look for a pro streeter. Now for the next question why don't the race car with ss springs run the shocks straight up.

 

[493 Mike]

Ok but yet I look at the pro street type and it's straight up. Which I get because of the race look. But the real value is that straight up is best in the race and is a great look for a pro streeter. Now for the next question why don't the race car with ss springs run the shocks straight up.

Because they were just modified OEM cars and costs were a factor and drag race sanctioning body rules probably had rules prohibiting too many changes in suspensions.
Mike

 

[bearman]

Thanks Mike, how do you have your rears. Stock location or straight up

 

[493 Mike]

Thanks Mike, how do you have your rears. Stock location or straight up

Stock, but I don't drag race.
Mike

 

[Badvert65]

With the same shock, straight up will permit more suspension travel and will seem slightly stiffer. With the exception of getting more suspension travel (from the shock length), I don't really see that it would make a lot of difference. You could also move the lower mounting point to the front of the axle to possibly better dampen axle twist-if your rear squats at launch. If it rises, you are likely better served with the shocks mounted to the rear of the axle. As far as drag racing, I have only considered the rear shock in terms of not limiting suspension travel by bottoming or topping out, but my only experience is with leaf spring suspensions.