What Size Shocks for a 4-inch Lift?

By Kathrina Jane Tiangco Written by Kathrina Jane Tiangco
Updated on April 2, 2022

There are various advantages to owning a raised truck. Some of the advantages include better off-roading capabilities, a greater view of the highway, as well as the capacity to equip larger tires and wheels for a more appealing appearance. Some parts of a lift kit, such as in a stock vehicle, can deteriorate over time, especially the shock absorbers. Because some lift packages feature shocks that are significantly different from the factory ones, changing them isn’t always as straightforward as searching up your vehicle online. 

As it rests on your truck currently, take measurements of the shock being at the highest point. For a shock adjustment, that should be the centerline. For example, for a 10″ stride shock, if you size 22″ from face to face, you’ll want a jolt with compacted and expanded lengths of 17″ – 27″ for such a 10″ stroke stun. You’ll have 5″ of venture up and 5″ of trip down this way. I guess we’d have to look at what you have presently for in front with a 4″ raise. Customizable coilovers are okay up to 3″ so you’d need a buffer on the pinnacle of that or the Procomp 4″ raise coilovers.

What size shocks should I use for a 4 inch lift?

Take measurements of the highest point of the shock as it is now resting on your truck. That should be the centerline for adjusting the shock. You’ll need a jolt with compressed and expanded lengths of 17″ – 27″ for such a 10″ stroke startle if you size 22″ from face to face, and you’ll have 5″ of venture up and 5″ of journey down this way. I think we’d have to look at what you have now for in front with a 4″ rise. You’d need a buffer on top of that or the Procomp 4″ raise coilovers if you want custom coilovers up to 3″.

How do you size shocks for lifted trucks?

In terms of length and fit, shocks aren’t ubiquitous. The shocks on lifted vehicles are longer than those on factory-level trucks. Regarding passenger car automobiles, calculating out shock or strut lengths isn’t a big deal because in most of the cases, the parts will be factory length. There are also reduced vehicles and automobiles with shorter shocks, but the basic line is that you will never know what you’re going to get!

The eyelet-to-eyelet strut will not function in every application if the installation type is not the same as an eyelet-to-eyelet jolt. With no apparent real justification to it unless this is what the maker was experiencing during development, there are various types of mounting arrangements. In certain circumstances, mount conversion packages are available.

Aside from understanding your truck’s age, manufacture, and type, the most crucial factor to consider when purchasing shocks for a raised truck is recognizing the optimum lift height. The specifications for your lift kit provide this data. You’ll need to calculate the change between the original height adjustment (included in your vehicle’s troubleshooting guide) and the existing ride height if you bought a vehicle with a raised kit and don’t know how high it is. This is normally taken between both the vehicle’s axle and the frame. So, if your truck’s ride height is 12 inches and the manual’s ride height is 6 inches, the truck has around 6 inches of elevation.

Do lifted trucks need different shocks?

To compensate for the variation in space between the bottom and the top mounting locations of the shock, suspension lift systems that elevate your truck more than 3 inches must normally establish a different shock absorber. In these circumstances, the most of the models offered by manufacturers will include replacement shock absorbers to make buying easier. There may be a variety of shock absorber alternatives available, including gas shock or hydraulic absorbers, monotube or twin tube  shock absorbers, and even remote or dual reservoir shock absorbers. Here’s where you can learn further about vehicle shock absorbers.

In principle, if you buy a raise kit from RealTruck.com, replacement shock absorbers are included if you need them.

How do I know what size shock absorber I need?

You may start looking for shock absorber replacements once you’ve determined the elevation height of your truck. Begin by visiting RealTruck.com and checking up the make, year, and model of your truck. Your shock absorber options will be narrowed down by the page to shock absorbers that are built particularly for your car. A variety of shock absorbers shall appear a bit farther down the page after you’ve reduced down your shock absorber choices by lift height. 

It’s worth noting that the absorbers are usually sold separately and are designated front or rear. Depending on the part of the car you’re working on, you’ll need to choose the right shock absorbers. Please remember that certain trucks have front struts and rear shock absorbers. The technique for replacing struts is similar to that of shock absorbers, except struts are more commonly offered in pairs.