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TR2/3/3A New shocks too short?

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Snowkilts

Jedi Hopeful
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I'm redoing the front suspension on my 3A with a few upgrades. I bought some GAZ shocks, p/n GT2-2272, which are sold for the 3A by multiple vendors. Put one on and when I took the ☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼ realized that the lower control arm is not touching the rebound bumper. It's my perception that at full droop the arm ought to sit heavily on the bumper but maybe I'm wrong about this?

In any event I compared the new and old shocks. The new one is a good 5/8" shorter than the old one. Photo shows the two shocks at full extension:

IMG_20190303_140240.jpg

I'm assuming this is a bad thing since at full rebound the suspension will bottom out on the shock rather than the bumper. Has anybody else run across this, and what did you do about it? I'm considering modifying the bumper to add maybe 1/4" shim.
 
I agree, normally it should rest quite firmly against the rebound stop.

Personally, I would return the shock (or pitch it if necessary) for one that fits the application. The 3A suspension has little enough travel as it is, without reducing it even further! 5/8" at the shock is going to be somewhere around 1" at the wheel. Hardly an "upgrade" !
 
I have Konis on my 3A. I made this before I installed them. Hope this helps.

koni80-1005.jpg
 
About as close to OE as I have around here from my 63 TR4

DSCN2226 (1280x960).jpg
 
The other important consideration is to measure the "car at rest" length of where the shock will fit, as this will be your mean compressed/extended length.
This of course depends on what rating springs you have fitted.
 
The shocks are a real pain to get in—in my IMHO. Plus perhaps the original shock can extended to far to get an accurate measurement. I just do not think they played that close, but I could easily be wrong. Malaby’s idea of the springs or maybe something else in the shock tower might be the problem.
steve
 
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