Need a rear shock 380-650mm for 120 series Prado

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

Hey all,

I'm hoping someone can suggest a manufacturer who has a rear shock to suit the 120 Prado in the range 380-650mm.

I'm not looking for any more open length than 650mm, as I will have my swaybar in which binds at 655mm with 40mm longer links.

The closed length can be under 380mm, but it is highly unlikely to find a shock with such a short closed and long open length. I'm not interested in closed lengths over 385mm, as the bumpstop spacing will be too large.

I have recently looked at a rear Tundra shock 385-650mm which could have done the job, but the top section of the shaft around the bushes is around 10mm too long and would require machining and re-threading, and the shock was a folded press fit job, with no chance of taking out the shaft for machining.

There are several vehicle types which may suit, eg, 80 and 100 series LandCruisers. These are typically open lengths of 620, 630 or 670mm, and nothing inbetween, so not suitable.

Front Jeep Wranglers have good lengths, but I'm not sure if they're suitable?

Can anyone make some good suggestions?

Best from the Bris

Mark

[rorza Member Find all posts View Profile Close rorza]

Haha I reckon if you can't find one, Mark, then no one can!

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

Hey Rory,

Yeah it's a tough job finding something!

Just by some strange miracle of geometry, the crazy twin traction beam setup on the front of old Ford Broncos has a quad shock arrangement, and the fronts take an ES3000 Pro Comp (part 325510) that is 15.04-25.75" = 382-654mm.

I don't think that shock is gas charged though, and I doubt it'll stand up to serious corrugations!

Best

Mark

[Mozz Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mozz]

I'm pretty sure that Dobinsons do one for the rear of an 80 series 4 inch lift that will fit and is around that length.

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

I'm pretty sure that Dobinsons do one for the rear of an 80 series 4 inch lift that will fit and is around that length.

Hey Mozz,

Unfortunately the 80 series shocks from Dobinsons are either well below (630mm or less) or well above (670mm or more). I've been through this with Ben Dobinson, and also checked their new MRR range, and there's nothing around the 650mm mark.

This problem stems from the "old days" of 80 series LandCruisers where people typically wanted 2, 4 and 6" lifts, which translated to roughly 620, 670mm and 730mm open length shocks to match the coil bucket separation.

There is unfortunately nothing off the shelf from 80/100 series that can match my requirements, with all manufacturers typically well below or well above 650mm.

Best

Mark

[ZORDO Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ZORDO]

Best I can find is 390-645 EFS Elite
Cheers

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

Best I can find is 390-645 EFS Elite
Cheers

Hey John,

Thanks for looking!

How's everything going up there in the north!?

I've got a plan to cut down the valves in a 365-618, which would hopefully get me around 12mm, allowing 365-630, and then add another 20mm and hey presto it's 385-650mm. So basically all you do is shave down 12mm off the internals, more if reasonably possible, and add 32mm to the shaft. The more you can shave down off the internals, the lower the final closed length!

Bloody difficult to find an off the shelf shock 380-650 or 385-650mm. They do exist, such as rear Tundras, but they have downsides like poor valving and shafts being too long, so machining required.

If I can't get it sorted with an off the shelf shock...then it's off to Icon, Fox or Kings to get a custom shorty shock made up.

Best from the southside!

Mark

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

Hey all,

EFS make an Extreme that is 390-665mm for the 80 series rear, so this shaft might be able to be cut down, but it would depend on how far the bottom washer flange sits above the top of the shock body, and if the shaft can be pulled out and shock rebuilt. I don't know if EFS customise, but I doubt it, like 99% of manufacturers they probably have no custom lengths offered.

Anyone know any more details about the EFS Extremes?

Best

Mark

[rorza Member Find all posts View Profile Close rorza]

Mark

Superior Engineering (I know how you feel about them haha) have just come out with numerous new options in their 8-way adjustable remote res shocks. No doubt you have received the email.

Having been through all of the available options it seems that only the fronts that they have listed fall into your requirements for 380-650mm (and also the 420-570mm/365-618mm front and rear that would optimise the Prados suspension geometry).

Namely the 26472 is the only real option for the open/closed measurements that you are asking at 382mm-660mm. Might be just over the edge in terms of closed length.

The 26471 has 372mm-640mm if that's any help. Seeing as they are fully-rebuildable perhaps there is some customisation available to tweak them a bit?

As a side note - are there any reasons that shocks listed as fronts shouldn't be used as rears given that the right bushings are used on the ends (i.e. spherical and the other top of rear shock type ones)? I ask because a few of their fronts have what I would consider ideal open closed measurements for the rear of the Prado and something I would consider purchasing.

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

Hey Rory,

Those models are front 80 series which are pin-pin. They could be adapted by tig welding on a ring eye, which might increase the closed and open length by around 20mm (half the ring eye diameter), but that is not a job to be taken lightly!

Unfortunately Superior do not do any modification in any way to their shock range. Absolutely no customisation! Very frustrating!

It's a real pain to find a shock in this range! There are many 11" shocks in this range out there, they are mostly fronts and would need modification.

Unfortunately most manufacturers only make 10" and 12" shocks.

Best

Mark

[rorza Member Find all posts View Profile Close rorza]

Mark

Are you 100% sure they only do pin-pin, as several of the images show spherical ends rather than pins? Bit confusing. Take for example the top image on this page and the image directly below it...

I realise this is for a rear not a front. Surely you can get spherical on front if you can get them on rears. I hear what you're saying about customisation, though, very frustrating.


https://www.superiorengineering.com....oduct_id=26464

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

Hey Rory,

I'm 100% sure as I just got off the phone with them and double checked. Lots of their images are generic, so don't trust what you see in the pictures.

This is a tough problem to sort out!

I've also recently been told by Driveline Services that they can't modify my current rear 80 series 365-618mm shock.

I've been through a lot of shock manufacturers (off the shelf and custom like Fox, Icon, King etc.) and haven't found anything suitable.

It's not impossible, just difficult and expensive!

Best

Mark