What Is Shock Ride Height And How Do You Measure It?

Shock ride height is one of the most critical yet often misunderstood elements of a vehicle’s suspension system. It plays a pivotal role in optimizing suspension performance for various applications, from street cruising to drag racing and autocross. QA1 has done the homework for you and optimized its shock offerings for more than 150 popular domestic muscle cars and pickup trucks to simplify your upgrades, but if you're building a more custom project with unique requirements, understanding the process of measuring for proper shock ride height may be invaluable. Let’s explore what shock ride height is, how it differs from chassis ride height, and the best practices for selecting and setting up shocks.

What Is Shock Ride Height?

Shock ride height refers to the position of a shock absorber when the car is fully assembled and resting at its desired stance. Unlike chassis ride height, which measures the distance from the ground to a specific part of the car’s body, shock ride height focuses on the distance between the shock’s mounting points. This measurement ensures that the shock operates within its intended travel range, providing balanced and adequate degree of compression and rebound during suspension movement.

Differences Between Shock and Chassis Ride Height

Chassis ride height is a measure of overall vehicle clearance, influenced by tire size, suspension geometry, and body style. While it determines the car’s appearance and ground clearance, it doesn’t directly indicate how the suspension components are functioning. Shock ride height, on the other hand, is strictly about the shock absorber’s position within its travel range. Failing to set the correct shock ride height can lead to bottoming out, topping out, and poor ride quality.

How to Measure Shock Ride Height

Accurately measuring shock ride height is the key to proper shock selection for your vehicle. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Set the Car to Its Desired Stance: Use a jack or weights to position the car at the ride height you want, simulating the fully loaded condition, ideally including passengers, fuel, and cargo if possible.

2. Take the Measurement: For eyelet-to-eyelet shocks, measure the center-to-center distance between the upper and lower mounting points. For stud-mounted shocks, measure from the center of the lower mounting point to the lower washer at the upper end of the shock

3. Confirm Adjustments: If the ride height is adjustable via spring collars, ensure these adjustments are finalized before measuring. This measurement will help determine the ideal shock length, ensuring it provides adequate compression and rebound travel.

Best Practices for Shock Selection and Setup

Match the Shock to Your Application

The correct shock length depends on your vehicle’s suspension design and intended use. A general rule of thumb is to aim for the shock piston to be near the middle of its travel range — or within the middle 1/3 of its total stroke— at ride height.

As an example, if you have a 14.5-inch ride height (center to center measurement) that is perfect for a 5-inch stroke shock. A 5-inch stroke shock would have a compressed length of 11 5/8 inches, and an extended length of 16 7/8 inches. That puts the shock in the ideal range for adequate compression and rebound. 

Another common example is a Mustang II-style front end. Say you have an eyelet to lower washer of stud mount measurement of 10.75 inches. A standard Mustang II coilover shock will be 7.88 inches compressed and 11.00 inches extended, and so this would give only 1/4 inch of rebound available. You would instead want to move to a shock which measures 8.63 inches compressed and 12.88 inches extended (or 4 1/4 inches), allowing for proper travel in both compression and rebound.

Here are estimated guidelines for common applications:

Street Driving: A 50/50 or 60/40 split between compression and rebound travel is typical. For example, a shock with a total stroke of four inches should allow for around two inches of travel in either direction.

Drag Racing: Prioritize rebound travel to accommodate weight transfer. A shock with a seven-inch stroke might offer 4.5 inches of rebound and 2.5 inches of compression at a 16- inch ride height.

Autocross/Road Course: A balanced setup with slightly more compression travel is ideal, given the limited suspension movement from stiffer springs.

Consider Modifying Shock Mounts

If your shock existing mounts limit travel, modifying them can unlock better performance. For example, if mounts are spaced 11 inches apart, this might restrict you to a 3-inch stroke shock, providing only 1.5 inches of travel in either direction. By spreading the mounts to 14.5 inches, you can install a five-inch stroke shock, significantly improving suspension travel and ride quality.

Account for Linear Springs

QA1 shocks use linear-rate springs, which maintain consistent spring rates regardless of preload adjustments. Unless the shock is topped out or bottomed out, the spring rate of QA1 springs will not change as you move the position up or down. This makes setup easier and ensures that changes to ride height via spring collars don’t affect ride quality or performance.

Ideal Shock Piston Position at Ride Height

The shock piston should be slightly biased toward compression at ride height to handle typical road conditions. For independent suspension systems, a 50/50 split (e.g., 2 inches of travel in either direction) is acceptable. For solid-axle setups, prioritize compression travel, aiming for 3 inches of downward movement and about 2.5 inches of rebound. In general, a shock with a longer stroke is better, if your vehicle can accommodate them — this will provide you more headroom for compression and rebound and valving adjustments without risk of bottom ing out or topping out. QA1 shocks are designed to carry the same valving characteristicsregardless of the length of the shock, so opting for a longer shock will not have a negative impact on your driving experience.

Different applications demand specific setups. For drag racing, greater rebound travel is essential to handle suspension extension during launches. In street applications, a balanced travel setup prevents the suspension from bottoming out over bumps or potholes. It’s important to note as you install your shocks and adjust the spring seat and locking collar to dial in your ride height, than unless the shock is topped out or bottomed out, the spring rate of QA1 springs will not change as you move the position up or down — your ride quality will remain consistent, although weight transfer and handling characteristics may change with a taller ride height.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using Existing Shocks as a Reference: Don’t assume that the shocks currently installed on your car are correct. Measure from scratch to ensure the best setup.

Overlooking Mounting Points: Mounting points that are too close together often lead to limited travel. Adjusting the mounts to accommodate a longer shock can drastically improve

suspension performance.

Ignoring Weight Distribution: Always measure ride height and select shocks based on a fully loaded vehicle when possible to replicate real-world conditions.

Shock ride height is a fundamental part of suspension setup, impacting comfort, performance, and reliability. By understanding how to measure and select the correct shocks for your muscle car or performance truck, you can transform your vehicle’s handling and ride quality. Whether you’re cruising the streets, racing at the drag strip, or tackling autocross courses, a properly set shock ride height ensures your suspension system is optimized for the task at hand — all while displaying the head-turning stance you desire. Take the time to measure accurately, select the right components, and adjust as necessary—your car will thank you for it.

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