Input on new rear shock mount/crossmember.

Hi all!

I need to make a new rear shock mount/cross member.
Do I need to keep the shock angles as stock or can I change it slightly for better/easier fabbing. Someone once told me that it's better to have the shocks at an angle sideways for better travel. Not sure if that's for Baja or true at all.


My plan is to use some left over 2x4 that I'll weld in between the two new 'frame' rails I made. Then just weld some studs to them. Double shear??
Anyways, any input would be nice.

Thanks!

You can get more wheel travel with an angled shock but the effective dampening of the shock decreases and will progressively decrease on compression. You can angle them however you want just keep that in mind. Straight up and down is the best but much harder to package. Double shear them if you can!

Thanks, I'll try and get them as straight as I can
I'll post a picture when its all done.

If your going to that much trouble, I would get the axle mounts relocated first.

Not too much trouble at this point, everything is rusted to s###.
Where is a better place on the axle? I'm putting in a ford 8.8