lowering to stock height

[oldtime]

Greg,
I hope that Monroe suggestion works out.
I'm not fully sure yet how your leaf springs may have effected the OAH.
Measure jeep OAH at the windshield and not at the center bow because various tops can and do have different dimensions.
I can then get a much better idea of how the springs may or may not have effected the standard lift.

As stated previously I recommend those shocks for use with standard suspension.
They will fit all 80" wheelbased Jeeps CJ2A, CJ-3A, and CJ-3B's at both front and rear. Also CJ-5, CJ-6 at front only.
They are not intended for lifted jeeps. But I suspect you'll be O.K.
Please verify your jeeps OAH from the top of the windshield frame to ground level.
Better yet measure the jeeps OAH with the shocks removed.

There is only one correct way to determine which shock absorber is required for a jeep with modified suspension.
This is done by measuring the shock absorber mounting points between full axle rise and full axle droop.
At full axle rise the leafspring arc flattens out, the axle should hit the axle bumper and the shackles may be getting near horizontal. (never horizontal or past horizontal)
At full axle droop the axle hangs from its own weight and the tire is not in contact with the ground.
Measure the droop / rise with all shocks removed. Measure from top mount to bottom mount.
These axle droop and rise measurements should be taken at both front and rear of the vehicle.
The chosen shock absorber must perform within the measured droop / rise limits.

[Rus Curtis]

Using this third paragraph is what I would suggest to figuring out what shock will work with your springs. IMHO The OEM shocks will not work with even a modest spring lift.

Read here:
http://z4.invisionfree.com/CJ3B_Bulletin_B...?showtopic=3944

Look at the images. The reason I come to this conclusion is the shocks will be at or near full extension all the time. Pounding the outer limit due to bouncing over road bumps will wear on the shock and/or mount. A longer shock will fix this problem.

Standard hydraulic shocks (original) don't seem to exist anymore. The only thing I've come across are gas charged replacements. This adds a minor boost and may be a great match to original springs. These new shock numbers can be compared for travel limits.

Here's one site to cross check.

http://www.willystech.com/faqs/Breakout/Shocks/shockref.htm

This site has a few additional links (most seem broken) but there are probably a dozen or more additional comparison sites on the web. Like Monroe:

http://www.monroe.com/assets/downloads/eng...LengthSheet.pdf

If you aren't going to do hard off-roading (full articulation) or haul a full load of bricks or fire wood, you may never see full compression on your springs (see the Columbian coffee jeeps). Typical road driving or light dirt road exploring will only flex your springs just a little bit. I simply got the dimensions of the standard shock from my SM,

S-9. SHOCK ABSORBER SPECIFICATIONS
(same for front and rear)
Length:
Compressed..................10 ¾”
Extended.......................17 ½”
Piston Diameter............1”


I then added a few inches of extension to cover the outer limit of travel (confirmed by lifting frame for wheel drop). The lower limit was close (only lost 1 7/8” compression).