With my front springs badly corroded I'm considering a new set of parabolic springs all round. I've been advised that a longer stroke set of dampers would increase axle articulation and since I probably need new dampers anyway its probably not a bad idea but I cant quite get my head around how a longer stroke damper can allow an increase in axle articulation.

To my mind a standard damper will be more or less fully compressed when the axle hits the bump stop and at the rear, nearly fully extended when the axle hits the straps. Surely a longer stroke telescopic damper must have a longer overall length when both fully extended and full compressed, so while it may allow more downward travel it will limit the upward travel and potentially bottom out before the axle hits the bump stop.

Am I missing something here, do standard dampers have a short stroke for their length, is it possible to have a longer stroke damper with the same minimum eye to eye length. while I can see that an increase in axle articulation can be achieved through longer stroke dampers it seems a bit strange to do this at the expense of upward axle movement and hence an increase in ride height. Can an increase in axle articulation be achieved while maintaining the full vertical displacement to the bump stops?

So far as I understand if using standard bump stops and axle straps there's no point using anything other than a standard length damper.

Found this, mines a SWB.
http://www.heystee-automotive.com/parts/springs/shocktab.htm

Looks like the front dampers do have a rather short stroke for their length, rears seem broadly comparable to many of the aftermarket units.

I've been doing a fair bit of research on this due to the same thinking.

The extra travel isn't to allow the wheel to lift on one side but more to allow the opposite spring to drop into deeper ruts. There is quite an extreme example I was looking at last night.



Which will give this level of articulation.


However I'm going to go for the Es3000 which should give something along these lines.

Now I'm not going for off road capability yet, I'm going for comfort mixed with a little upgrading just because. But from what I can tell the procomps are telescopic and so give that extra drop.

Mix that with some extended spring hangers on the back and on the front (interestingly I've read reports that say wheel self centering improved with putting extended spring hangers on the front leafs).

However, I have only READ this, this is not my own experience, however, this is the route I will be going.

I have GB Springs paras on mine...with std shocks as they recommend.

I cant praise GB Springs enough....mine have been on around 10 years.

Nick.