Does a shock need be mounted fully open??

Should a shock be mounted in the fully open position? Or can it be compressed some at ride height?

I am getting ready to mount my shocks, and ideally I needed a 14" open and 10" closed shock. Closest thing NAPA has is 16.5-10.25. So will It hurt to compress it a couple inches?

Also do you all have any pics of custome mounts you have made???

 

At ride height, you want the shock to be half compressed

 

1/3rd compressed

An axle will go up further than it will move down under normal conditions.

 

I try to set them up at about 1/3 compressed at ride height.

 

Thats what I figured, give me 4" up and 2" down....

 

Add another vote for 1/3 compressed.

 

Remember to account for the angle the shock will be mounted in, unless straight up and down.

 

Pro street rod shocks list IE: ride height 9"
compressed 7.5"
Extended 10.5"
Speedway catalog refferance.

 

fully extended shocks do ugly things to the ride, when they bottom up, & with the momentum of the body, often get torn apart as well

 

If you even end up so you are half way between open and closed you will be ok. I use the shocks from Speedway and set them up according to the chart, like dirt t posted.

Don