Oh yeah....excited to finally put on one of the last bits of my newly built suspension and the shocks won't fit. Just a few mm too thick. I have just sent an email to UMI support to see what they say. What do you recommend? Go with a different shock/brand? Is there some really neat trick to install them that I am not aware of? This is my first time doing a front end suspension. Is that what needs to be done? http://sleeperbu.homestead.com/Shocks.html Thanks in advance. Ed
Although I would go about it a different way, that is a typical race shock install with stock lower control arms...
did you do umi arms also? I literally just finished that on my 70 skylark and even with umi arms its a tight fit. stock arms are gonna need some clearance. the umi arms have an oversized opening above the mounting holes.
Can't you just break a ball joint loose, install the shock, and put it back together? I'm picturing doing that in my mind, and thinking that should work.
Maybe? If it would work, that is an excellent idea. I know on my double adjustable AFCO's, the adjustment knob would still interfere. My AFCO's came with an 1/8" thick "ring" with the correct spaced mounting holes that welds in, then you can grind away to the inside diameter of the ring.
No way I would do that either.I would consider tubular arms and keep the stock ones if you would decide to go back...
Yes Tom, I too was considering such a solution as I lay in bed last night waiting for daylight!ray: I am with you guys, I don't want to cut up my control arms either!!! As it turns out, that is what UMI suggests. Here is the content of their email back to me: Hi Edward, Thanks for the message. Yes this has become a problem with the fitment lately. Anybody that orders direct from us is told of this issue. Our aftermarket front shocks along with "many" aftermarket shocks do not clear when you are trying to fit them up through the factory A-arm. Most all quality after market shocks are a larger diameter to hold more oil and to allow the internal components to be of a higher quality compared to over the counter replacements. There are two different methods that will allow these shocks to be installed. The first is to trim some of the a-arm with a die grinder to make them fit(this is what most customers do) the second is to dissemble the spring from the lower A-arm, bolt the top of the shock to the mount,slide the spring over the shock,raise the a-am up and use a jack and tap the spring into the a-arm,this method is longer in time to install but some customers go this route. This is how we install springs in our shop. We actually went to a different shock manufacturer to build us a smaller diameter front shock to offer to customers that want to use factory a-arms. This shock will probably cost a little more money because of the technology it takes to build a high quality shock of small diameter to compare to the larger diameter shock. If you'd like to return the shocks for a refund I will honor this to elevate any problems but you will run into this problem with many aftermarket shocks. Will we have the small body shocks in a few weeks if you want to wait, I believe they will be black in color. Thanks, Craig
Sounds like you should be waiting for the correct shock.. Wonder how much better or worse a smaller shock will perform ??
