Thanks for the help. I checked the Gabriel sight and the spec on the shock is about 3 inchs longer than my current K's. So they are on order 35 for a pair.

Life in SLO is great.

RIchard

I took it as he meant the shock would bottom out sooner because at the same ride height the shock would be already be compressed the length of the extender.

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

Not sure I understand. Compress sooner? Seems to me with all that extra travel of the extensions the leaf springs would the shock compress latter and never hit the bumper stomp.

Regardless I think a long shock is a good idea.



Anyone know the length difference between the Gabriel and KYB

That's a good point, one that concerned me. So I checked and the axel hits the bumbers way before the shocks bottom out because the axle is "raised" 2" further away from the shock mount/spring perch with the lowering block. I'm running KYB Gas-a-just shocks with shock extenders at the top.



If my KYB's ever wear out I may consider going the Gabriel route. They are about the same price I paid for the KYB's.

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

I had extensions on mine at first because I could not get the wheels off.I think the ones specified by most companies are too short on extension.The Gabriels work great even though mine is lowered 2 inches they still heve travel room on compression.As I mentioned I gave mine a light sanding and sprayed Rustoleom Gloss black and they look stock.I think they come white.Best part is they are well priced i think.Likely because there is low demand for the original application(79 Ford F250).  

  

Here is a photo with extensions. I think I will go ahead and get the Gaberials

Got my Gabriels at Rock Auto and they work great and my car is quite low, no trouble getting the wheels off, just getting a jack under it.

       

Gary, 55 Vicky, St. Germain, Wisconsin

 

Sounds like they were defective.Gas filled.As soon as you remove the wire keeping them compressed for shipping they extend.You have to fight to get them compressed short enough to install.

  

They never seemed right, if I held them by hand I could easily pull them in and out, and didnt seem even either, for a truck shock I would have thought quite hard to compress, I thought maybe it was special valving but nah wheren't that great on the car.



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

If it is a matter of total travel, a stud extension (I think that is what you are describing) will allow the axle to extend to a longer distance but it will also fully compress sooner in the opposite direction.  You should be able to find catalogs that list total travel, i.e. compressed O.A.L. minus fully extended O.A.L. for their various models.  Compare that with what you have now and go from there.  I have used the extenders in the past but they are a "bandaid" not a permanent solution to your problem.  I actually ended up reusing the extenders to lengthen the shift levers on a Ferguson tractor.