The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1988 - 1998 GMT400 Chevy & GMC Pickups Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-16-2023, 08:23 PM   #1
61_FL_Apache
Who Me?
 
61_FL_Apache's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Royal Palm Beach, FL
Posts: 4,064
Shocks for a 2" drop 97 Tahoe

Hello all, I seem to remember something about using Dodge Dakota front shocks for a 2" drop 97 C1500 or Tahoe.

I tried searching for that thread and came up empty. I did find some shocks that mount up the same, but not sure about length.

Thanks for the help.
Steve
__________________
Steve

1997 Tahoe LT 4D 2WD (DD)
1961 Apache 10 (sold)
1965 C10 Stepper (sold)
61_FL_Apache is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-16-2023, 11:12 PM   #2
Just call me Sean
Registered User
 
Just call me Sean's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Orlando Florida
Posts: 1,598
Re: Shocks for a 2" drop 97 Tahoe

I have a 92 Dakota so I measured the shocks for you. They are about 13" long at installed height, which is about 2" less than my 2500LD which has the same shocks as the 1500.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by Early Cuyler
Fights begin, fingerprints are took, days is lost, bail is made, court dates are ignored, cycle is repeated.
Just call me Sean is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2023, 05:11 AM   #3
b454rat
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Binghamton, NY
Posts: 3,453
Re: Shocks for a 2" drop 97 Tahoe

Mine was lower than 2” up front n used stock shocks. Worked fine.
__________________
2000 GMC CCSB 454/4L80 6” lift SAS
1999 Chevy CCSB 454/NV4500 6” lift
1999 GMC Yukon 350/4L60 4" SAS
b454rat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2023, 12:22 PM   #4
61_FL_Apache
Who Me?
 
61_FL_Apache's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Royal Palm Beach, FL
Posts: 4,064
Re: Shocks for a 2" drop 97 Tahoe

Quote:
Originally Posted by Just call me Sean View Post
I have a 92 Dakota so I measured the shocks for you. They are about 13" long at installed height, which is about 2" less than my 2500LD which has the same shocks as the 1500.
Thank you for that!
__________________
Steve

1997 Tahoe LT 4D 2WD (DD)
1961 Apache 10 (sold)
1965 C10 Stepper (sold)
61_FL_Apache is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2023, 12:23 PM   #5
61_FL_Apache
Who Me?
 
61_FL_Apache's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Royal Palm Beach, FL
Posts: 4,064
Re: Shocks for a 2" drop 97 Tahoe

Quote:
Originally Posted by b454rat View Post
Mine was lower than 2” up front n used stock shocks. Worked fine.
I was concerned that they may bottom out.
__________________
Steve

1997 Tahoe LT 4D 2WD (DD)
1961 Apache 10 (sold)
1965 C10 Stepper (sold)
61_FL_Apache is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2023, 01:20 PM   #6
Tom
driving is in my blood
 
Tom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Mesa AZ
Posts: 5,687
Re: Shocks for a 2" drop 97 Tahoe

Why not just buy actual drop shocks that are valved for the shorter travel?
__________________
-78 c10 short/step: 388cid, M20, 5/5 drop, lots more. Playtoy and first vehicle.
-98 c1500 x-cab: 5.7L, 17" rims, 5/6 drop, flowmaster, helper bags,NBS rear disk brakes.
-02 Suburban 4x4: leveled front
-CBR600F4i, CBR600RR, CBR1000RR, and standup skis
DISCLAIMER: I cant spell for the life of me.
Tom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2023, 01:43 PM   #7
61_FL_Apache
Who Me?
 
61_FL_Apache's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Royal Palm Beach, FL
Posts: 4,064
Re: Shocks for a 2" drop 97 Tahoe

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom View Post
Why not just buy actual drop shocks that are valved for the shorter travel?
I agree, because the cost is about double and my budget is tight.
__________________
Steve

1997 Tahoe LT 4D 2WD (DD)
1961 Apache 10 (sold)
1965 C10 Stepper (sold)
61_FL_Apache is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2023, 02:10 PM   #8
b454rat
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Binghamton, NY
Posts: 3,453
Re: Shocks for a 2" drop 97 Tahoe

I don't remember it ever bottoming out. I had more of a problem with the rear, tho no really a problem, but I would hit the bumpstops on a good bump, even after trimming bout half off.
__________________
2000 GMC CCSB 454/4L80 6” lift SAS
1999 Chevy CCSB 454/NV4500 6” lift
1999 GMC Yukon 350/4L60 4" SAS
b454rat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2023, 02:51 PM   #9
Just call me Sean
Registered User
 
Just call me Sean's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Orlando Florida
Posts: 1,598
Re: Shocks for a 2" drop 97 Tahoe

Yea, now that I think about it. A dropped spindle would use the factory shock. So would a dropped spring because the control arm still would bottom at the same spot, it would just get there faster. I don't know what a dropped control arm would need but those are usually 3".
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by Early Cuyler
Fights begin, fingerprints are took, days is lost, bail is made, court dates are ignored, cycle is repeated.
Just call me Sean is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2023, 05:23 PM   #10
61_FL_Apache
Who Me?
 
61_FL_Apache's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Royal Palm Beach, FL
Posts: 4,064
Re: Shocks for a 2" drop 97 Tahoe

I lowered mine with springs. I would agree with stock shocks with drop spindles.
__________________
Steve

1997 Tahoe LT 4D 2WD (DD)
1961 Apache 10 (sold)
1965 C10 Stepper (sold)
61_FL_Apache is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2023, 05:38 PM   #11
Just call me Sean
Registered User
 
Just call me Sean's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Orlando Florida
Posts: 1,598
Re: Shocks for a 2" drop 97 Tahoe

I can understand the reasoning for using the shorter shock, the only thing I would worry about with that is it not having enough travel at full suspension droop.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by Early Cuyler
Fights begin, fingerprints are took, days is lost, bail is made, court dates are ignored, cycle is repeated.
Just call me Sean is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2023, 12:47 AM   #12
Richard
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Southern California
Posts: 2,664
Re: Shocks for a 2" drop 97 Tahoe

On pretty much any vehicle you can completely remove the spring and the bump stop bumper. Jack the suspension up until it is bottomed metal to metal. A stock length shock will not be bottomed out in this position. Factory designed suspension this way.
As mentioned by some, ride on lowered vehicles that use shorter or "drop shocks" can be made even worse because now you have not only limited up travel with the shorter springs, down travel is now limited by the shock. Shock valving has to do with the type of shock not the length. The dampening of the shock is linear throughout the shock movement except on some specialized shocks like the internal bypass shock on the front of my 72.
__________________
Richard
1972 K10 Custom Deluxe SWB Fleetside
My build https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=800746
Richard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2023, 04:05 PM   #13
61_FL_Apache
Who Me?
 
61_FL_Apache's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Royal Palm Beach, FL
Posts: 4,064
Re: Shocks for a 2" drop 97 Tahoe

Thanks for the info everyone!
__________________
Steve

1997 Tahoe LT 4D 2WD (DD)
1961 Apache 10 (sold)
1965 C10 Stepper (sold)
61_FL_Apache is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2023, 07:59 PM   #14
Tom
driving is in my blood
 
Tom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Mesa AZ
Posts: 5,687
Re: Shocks for a 2" drop 97 Tahoe

Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard View Post
The dampening of the shock is linear throughout the shock movement except on some specialized shocks like the internal bypass shock on the front of my 72.
It is not linear, otherwise shocks wouldn't have a high speed and low speed compression damping circuits [obviously only high end units do, but the principle is the same]. Shocks work by forcing fluid threw restrictions. The restrictions don't change size to accommodate fluid speed, therefor changing the valving in essence depending on the speed of motion put into it.
__________________
-78 c10 short/step: 388cid, M20, 5/5 drop, lots more. Playtoy and first vehicle.
-98 c1500 x-cab: 5.7L, 17" rims, 5/6 drop, flowmaster, helper bags,NBS rear disk brakes.
-02 Suburban 4x4: leveled front
-CBR600F4i, CBR600RR, CBR1000RR, and standup skis
DISCLAIMER: I cant spell for the life of me.
Tom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2023, 01:11 AM   #15
Richard
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Southern California
Posts: 2,664
Re: Shocks for a 2" drop 97 Tahoe

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom View Post
It is not linear, otherwise shocks wouldn't have a high speed and low speed compression damping circuits [obviously only high end units do, but the principle is the same]. Shocks work by forcing fluid threw restrictions. The restrictions don't change size to accommodate fluid speed, therefor changing the valving in essence depending on the speed of motion put into it.
Think you know I was referring the shock position, compressed 50% or 80%. It acts the same. High and low speed circuits in my shocks are in the same piston and adjusted with different diameter and thickness "flexible washers". How this stack reacts to pressure changes is the valving. The bypass in my front shocks closes up in the top end of travel. This makes the shock dampening harder at that point. The shock angle changing relative to suspension movement changes the dampening characteristics, to the vehicle as well. In my reply I was just trying to keep it simple for those that use standard or bolt on parts.
__________________
Richard
1972 K10 Custom Deluxe SWB Fleetside
My build https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=800746

Last edited by Richard; 05-23-2023 at 01:28 AM.
Richard is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:29 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com