Help picking new rear shocks.

So i have a 21 tundra, i currently have CB +3 shackles in the rear. Im planning in adding a leaf, lifting my rear 3 inches. Im having trouble finding shocks for a 3 inch lift, Ive seen some around for 4 to 6 inch lift but im not sure if they are to long. My current shocks are 15 inches compressed and about 25 inches extendes. If i get a shocks thats 18 inches compressed to account for the 3 inch lift, will those work?

 

4-6” lift shocks will be too long and will probably bottom out before bump. Look into the ADS Deaver spec bypass, they have a pretty short compressed length and allow for a good amount of droop. Best bet would be to take the leaf pack apart, cycle the suspension to full bump and to full droop and take measurements and have a custom shock made by fox, king, or ADS. Lead times will probably be a while tho. I’ve been waiting on rear shocks from king for 1.5 years lol

 

take a look at what @AccuTune Offroad has come up with…

https://www.tundras.com/threads/fox-2-5-rear-1-5-3-lift.122878/

 

The fox shocks ive been looking at fully compress at 18 inches and expand to 29 inches the stock ones compress to 15 inches and expand to 25 inches. I thought the fox would work since i had a 3 inch lift. Stock travel is 9 inch vs the fox are 11. Based on the measurements i dont think they will bottom out, but im just trying to get ppls 2cents on this. Im faily new to the suspension scene.

 

Without having that extra leaf installed, it's going to be tough to guess which shock to get. Assuming you would increase lift height by 1", you could mimic that but jacking up the rear of the truck and measure the shocks (this would be new ride height). This would at least give you an idea of lengths needed.

Longer compressed length will require longer bump stops so you don't bottom out the shocks first.

In general, we would recommend at least 2-3" of droop travel from ride height.

 

The leaf is supposed to give me an extra 1.5" with the shackles it should be a 3 in lift in the rear. I havent measure because its not put in yet but in theory say it is lifted 3". Based on the specs for those fox shocks would they work? Im just trying to figure out how i would go about figuring the measurements. If i have a 3" lift would i need an extra 3" on the shock for them to work?

 

The 2 inch lift bilstiens compress to the same length as the 4 inch lift fox shocks and they extend to 26 vs 29 on the fox. Texhnically wouldnt i get mor droop from the fox shocks since the extend 3 more inches, when they are compressed they are the same measurement.

 

Did you read the link I posted previously?

What are you trying to accomplish with your truck? If you’re going through the trouble to gain the travel, my suggestion is that you skip the AAL and shackle combo entirely. Go with an aftermarket leafpack and appropriately spec’d shock.

 

I really can't say for sure without measurements and we are still assuming the final lift height. Basically yes, you want a longer shock to match the new ride height. Usually you are forced into finding a shock that is close to those measurements, wont be exact.

"My current shocks are 15 inches compressed and about 25 inches extendes."
How did you take these measurements? Do you know what length they are at ride height?

 

Measurements for my stock shocks or based of factory spec i havent measured them. As for travel im not trying to gain any extra travel. I was just comparing the fox 2.0 4 inch lift and the bilstien 2 inch lift. Compressed they are the same, extended the fox are 3 inches longer. I was just thinking that if i had a 3 inch lift the added shocks would just be 3 inchs longer.

 

Also im confused as to how they are same size compressed but one is 3 inchs longer extended.

 

Also something to think about is that some of these shocks have internal spacers that limit shock extension…


shock technologies differ:

Emulsion shock, internal floating piston, remote reservoir…etc

Comparing an IFP shock to R/R shock is an apples to oranges comparison.

IFP has a reserved volume in the main shock body that is pressurized with an inert gas and is separated from the oil with a, you guessed it a piston. This reduces the piston stroke length.

r/r allows this piston and inert gas charge to be relocated to the external resi thus freeing up the space in the main body for the main shock piston to travel.

An emulsion shock doesn’t have an piston separating oil/gas charge and is least desirable.

 

Ok so what would be the best way to figure this out? Get measurements with the leaf installed? Sorry im new to all this id like to learn. Ty for all the help.

 

Truly depends on what you plan on using your truck for…

 

Some light off roading, its also my daily driver. Dont want anything to crazy.

 

You mentioned AAL and CB +3 shackles, what is going out front?

 

In the front i just have a 3 inch spacer lift i was working my way from the back to the front since the rear suspension is cheaper to get done first lol

 

Hitting that rear 3 inch lift target, your options are limited to get it “right”.

but i feel the safe bet is the Accutune custom configuration as mentioned previously.

Other things to think about:

1. Brake line/harness relocation brackets or longer brake lines.
2. Droop travel limiting…nobody wants to disembowel their shocks by aggressively topping out the shocks
3. Uptravel “bump” limiting… driving the piston into the top cap of shock as well as overly compressing your leaf spring into negative arch.
4. Carrier bearing drop.