What the Heck Are These? Shock Extensions? Options

[Brett W]

I found these in the trunk of my new car, look like regular 914 shocks with some sort of two+ inch extension on the top. Why in the world would someone install these?

[Eric_Shea]

Insane... Good work on the pole! LOL

The plan is to use adjustable perches and a lift kit at the body pick-up points (around the M17 fasteners). Still trying to figure out the suspension ear though... The thought is to pull the top of the shock down equally so the gemoetry remains the same. This would give the shock proper travel.

That's the plan anyway... I'm way open to suggestions at this point.

[moggy]

Insane... Good work on the pole! LOL

The plan is to use adjustable perches and a lift kit at the body pick-up points (around the M17 fasteners). Still trying to figure out the suspension ear though... The thought is to pull the top of the shock down equally so the gemoetry remains the same. This would give the shock proper travel.

That's the plan anyway... I'm way open to suggestions at this point.

Eric, off-roading rocks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif) This is one of 4 buggies I had when I used to race them. This was the tamest one I had (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

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I list up my suspension as high as the wheel alignment adjustments will allow for the real rough stages. This is the best photo I can find that give you an idea of how high you can get it without any suspension mods.

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Any higher on the back and the wheels start going toe out even on full adjustment. You can probably get another inch or two by putting on those mud flingers you had in the pictures above although you'll definetly need wide arches on to fit the rubber under there.

No matter what you do you'll need skid plates front and rear like mine. I can give you the schematic of mine so you can build your own when you're ready.

Here's some of the additional strengthening you'll have to weld in to enable the car to cope with the worst that off roading can throw at you.

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Don't forget the cage

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If you REALLY want to lift the suspension higher I wouldn't go the route you mentioned, unless, you really triangulate that inner ear. The inner ear is the achilles heel on the whole car when you put that car under stress off road. Elongating it like you plan will make the problem worse. Maybe consider the route the off road buggy guys go for longer wheel travel and therefore body lift, by using longer trailing arms. You'll have to make them up of course as no one makes these as far as I'm aware.

Then you have the problem of the front i.e. raising the front then to match the rear. You can't simply adjust it all the way up as my photo's above show you the max they can go without the wheel alignment really struggling.

Whichever way you go, the best quality shocks you can afford will make the world of difference.

Hope this helps (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)