Dana UD60 front shock relocation for Fox 2.5

[Roky]

Hey @Roky, thanks.
I have those MC brackets now. My front axle is still in the crate, but I will see if I can get those to work though, and save me from buying new front shocks too, I think.
For the rear, I think new shocks are the cleanest way to go for me. I could cut and weld and make my current DSC's work on the UD60, but I just don't want to, lol.

Understood…….?

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[DLW]

Hey @drtrdr85, hope you don't mind me piggybacking some info in a contributing way, maybe this info could be useful for others doing UD60's with 4.5" springs as we did. Or whatever springs you use.

I talked to Accutune today, and ultimately I needed to do some more measuring.
I used their procedure https://accutuneoffroad.com/how-to-measure-for-jeep-shocks/

Here is what I have with the Fox 2.5 DSC 3-4.5 inch versions in the rear using their instructions.
3-4.5" specs for rear
Product Brand: Fox
Product Compressed Length: 18.43
Product Extended Length: 30.3
Product Travel: 11.87

My measurements:
Shock length at ride height (A) = 27.375
Shaft showing at ride height (B) = 8.750
A-B = compressed length of that shock = 18.625 (with 4" bump stop)
C is 6.625"

So, I have 2.125 inches of shaft showing while compressed into the bump stop.
Remember, these measurements are done from under the shock bumper, "B" in the pic.
That leaves me with 3.12" of droop. If I used a rear shock relocation bracket, I could raise the shock 1.5" max where I would be well into the shock bumper there.

Now if I used the Fox DSC 4.5-6" shocks.
4.5-6" specs for rear
Product Brand: Fox
Product Compressed Length: 19.43
Product Extended Length: 32.3
Product Travel: 12.87

Uses same Shock length at ride height (A) = 27.375
Shaft showing at ride height (B) = 7.750 (at the same ride height, this shock will have 1" less shaft showing)
A-B = compressed length of that shock = 19.625 (with 4" bump stop)
C is still 6.625"

I would have 1.125" of shaft showing while maxed into the bump stop.
That gives me 5.12" of droop. Very unlikely you can run much less than a 4" bump with this shock though, as you would only have 0.125 clearance with a 3" bump. I guess you could do a 3.5" bump ok.

 

[drtrdr85]

Hey @drtrdr85, hope you don't mind me piggybacking some info in a contributing way, maybe this info could be useful for others doing UD60's with 4.5" springs as we did. Or whatever springs you use.

I talked to Accutune today, and ultimately I needed to do some more measuring.
I used their procedure https://accutuneoffroad.com/how-to-measure-for-jeep-shocks/

Here is what I have with the Fox 2.5 DSC 3-4.5 inch versions in the rear using their instructions.
3-4.5" specs for rear
Product Brand: Fox
Product Compressed Length: 18.43
Product Extended Length: 30.3
Product Travel: 11.87

My measurements:
Shock length at ride height (A) = 27.625
Shaft showing at ride height (B) = 8.750
A-B = compressed length of that shock = 18.875 (with 4" bump stop)
C is 6.625"

So, I have 2.125 inches of shaft showing while compressed into the bump stop.
Remember, these measurements are done from under the shock bumper, "B" in the pic.
That leaves me with 3.12" of droop. If I used a rear shock relocation bracket, I could raise the shock 1.5" max where I would be well into the shock bumper there.

Now if I used the Fox DSC 4.5-6" shocks.
4.5-6" specs for rear
Product Brand: Fox
Product Compressed Length: 19.43
Product Extended Length: 32.3
Product Travel: 12.87

Uses same Shock length at ride height (A) = 27.625
Shaft showing at ride height (B) = 7.750 (at the same ride height, this shock will have 1" less shaft showing)
A-B = compressed length of that shock = 19.875 (with 4" bump stop)
C is still 6.625"

I would have 1.125" of shaft showing while maxed into the bump stop.
That gives me 5.12" of droop. Very unlikely you can run much less than a 4" bump with this shock though, as you would only have 0.125 clearance with a 3" bump. I guess you could do a 3.5" bump ok.

Good info I am running 4” bumps front and rear so I should be ok I believe.

 

[DLW]

I did some measuring today on the front.
I see your dilemma.
So, the UD60 shock bracket (OD to OD) is 2 3/16" wide
The Stock D44 shock bracket (OD to OD) is 2" wide.
I don't think any of the outboard shock mounts will work without widening them, which means cutting and welding.

But curious what you come up with on the Skyjackers.

 

[GATORB8]

I did some measuring today on the front.
I see your dilemma.
So, the UD60 shock bracket (OD to OD) is 2 3/16" wide
The Stock D44 shock bracket (OD to OD) is 2" wide.
I don't think any of the outboard shock mounts will work without widening them, which means cutting and welding.

But curious what you come up with on the Skyjackers.

I have an unused set of the Bilstein mount I can measure out for fabrication if it’ll help. Super simple design so should be easy for a shop to do. It’s bent 1/4 so would be tough at home without a big brake.

 

[drtrdr85]

I did some measuring today on the front.
I see your dilemma.
So, the UD60 shock bracket (OD to OD) is 2 3/16" wide
The Stock D44 shock bracket (OD to OD) is 2" wide.
I don't think any of the outboard shock mounts will work without widening them, which means cutting and welding.

But curious what you come up with on the Skyjackers.

Skyjacker mount should be in on Monday. Probably wont be able to get to it until next weekend but I will report back.

 

[GATORB8]

I have an unused set of the Bilstein mount I can measure out for fabrication if it’ll help. Super simple design so should be easy for a shop to do. It’s bent 1/4 so would be tough at home without a big brake.

This got me thinking, so I pulled one out and put a tape to it. I think you could fab at the house.

Two 1.75” lengths of 4.5x4.5x.25 hot rolled square tube, chop into a channel 2 3/8” tall. Drill her out maybe some grinding.

The Bilstein is 4 1/8 so the 4.5 allows for the 3/16 and a washer or two.

 

[DLW]

This got me thinking, so I pulled one out and put a tape to it. I think you could fab at the house.

Two 1.75” lengths of 4.5x4.5x.25 hot rolled square tube, chop into a channel 2 3/8” tall. Drill her out maybe some grinding.

The Bilstein is 4 1/8 so the 4.5 allows for the 3/16 and a washer or two.

I saw the Northridge video of them installing these Bilstein brackets on the UD44 with the same issue, in a Gladiator.
They mention they had to modify the Bilstein bracket, then didn't show how they did it.
I think they just cut off the ends, got a longer straight piece and welded the ends back on it.
I guess you could also cut that Bilstein bracket in half, then weld a new 1/4" straight to the bottom of it once the width is set.

But that is a good idea on that 4.5x4.5 piece, thanks for suggesting it and giving your measurements, that actually seems easy to do.
BTW, I am looking at buying those Bilstein 8100 Bypass shocks myself.

 

[drtrdr85]

So I flex it out again and made a change to my track bar it seemed to be off. Now I am not getting any rubbing on the axels on the stands. I will report when I flex it out later next week on the forklift and should be hitting a trail soon to get a practical observation.

 

[GATORB8]

So I flex it out again and made a change to my track bar it seemed to be off. Now I am not getting any rubbing on the axels on the stands. I will report when I flex it out later next week on the forklift and should be hitting a trail soon to get a practical observation.

Unfortunately, I'd guess you'll still get some contact when the axle rotates articulated since it moves the lower shock mounts to the center.

 

[WashingtonWetWheeler]

Interested to see what everyone comes up with. I may have my local shop fab something up for me being in this same situation as well as nowhere to put the remote reservoirs due to chopping off the horns.

 

[WashingtonWetWheeler]

Looks like this isn't as simple as cutting off the brackets that come with the UD60 and putting in some tabs. There isn't any space with the coil pad in the way and it's already up against the C...

 

[drtrdr85]

Interested to see what everyone comes up with. I may have my local shop fab something up for me being in this same situation as well as nowhere to put the remote reservoirs due to chopping off the horns.

There are other guys I reached out to who just flipped the drivers and passenger and used different piggy back mounts. @therubistina did that.

 

[WashingtonWetWheeler]

Interesting, I reached out to them on IG. Wouldn't this make the rub even worse? Any more reference you can share?

There are other guys I reached out to who just flipped the drivers and passenger and used different piggy back mounts. @therubistina did that.

 

[drtrdr85]

Interesting, I reached out to them on IG. Wouldn't this make the rub even worse? Any more reference you can share?

Not sure. They do wheel a lot so I think if you just move the reservoir outboard you would be ok.

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