Science Serving Sick Toys^TM              

U-Weld-It Over-the-Engine Shock Mount Installation

Use your browser's BACK button to return to the page you were viewing.

Note: Photo above is rear view (i.e. as seen from driver seat)

A - Front Cross Bar;  B - Flanges;  C - Shock Loops;  D - Shock Tabs

PLEASE READ all instructions all the way through BEFORE YOU START!

Safety First!  This U-Weld-It kit is a universal fit kit. You will need to trim pieces to proper size for your application, notch two pieces of tubing and weld the pieces into place. A.O.R. products should only be installed by those knowledgeable and experienced with such fabrication for 4x4 suspensions. Your safety depends on it!

IMPORTANT STEP ONE:  You must have your shocks in hand before you start this installation.  

Why? A.O.R.'s Over-the-Engine Extended Shock Mount System is designed for shocks with at least 13 inches of travel. And if you line up 13-inch (or 14-inch or whatever-inch) shocks from several different makers, you'll find some shock bodies are longer and shorter than others. In other words, the collapsed and extended lengths may differ from shock to shock, even when all the shocks are 13-inchers or 14-inchers. 

And since shock length is critical to this installation, you'll need to have your shocks first.

  IMPORTANT STEP TWO: To maximize suspension travel and to avoid damaging shocks, mounts and other components, it's a good idea to position bumpstops accurately by actually twisting up your rig--without shocks--on a ramp or similar obstacle until you reach max droop on one side and max compression on the other. This is also the best way to figure out what length shocks you actually need.    

Assuming you've done the above, then...

1. Park your truck on a hard, level surface. 

2. Measure the distance between the bumpstop on the axle or U-bolt plate and the contact point on the frame (or the frame's bumpstop).   

3. Add 33% to the measurement in #2 above. This is the amount of piston shaft that should be exposed when the shock loops are installed. For example, if the bumpstop distance is 7 inches, exposed shaft length would be 9.3 inches (7 x 1.33).

4. Use the shock itself with proper shaft extension (9.3 inches in our example) or eye-to-eye measurement (with proper shaft extension) to figure how much to trim from shock loops so that they sit on top of frame. You'll probably have to trim some inner fender sheetmetal. Tack-weld loops onto frame. Distance across the engine between shock loops should be 33 to 34 inches, measured between inside of loops.

5. Bolt shock tabs to shocks. Use shocks to position shock tabs on loops. Assuming you're using the stock axle mounts, top of shocks should be kicked rearward approximately 5 degrees. Tack-weld tabs. 

6. Position, trim and notch crossbar to fit between loops, leaving clearance over engine and underhood components. But don't forget to allow for hood to close! 

7. Flanges are provided to make crossover bar removable. To install flanges, cut crossbar at desired positions on each end. Bolt two flanges together, slip over bar at each cut and tack flanges to crossbar.

8. After assembly is complete and tack-welded, disassemble, weld, paint and reassemble. Happy 'wheeling and thanks for choosing A.O.R. products!