safe way to test travel/articulation?

Is there a safe and handy way to check your suspension travel at home without access to one of those ramps? I'd like to see how much up travel my shock has and what I need for bump stops on the front.

 

I haven’t tried this, but I’m wondering if it’s possible to cycle the front up and down by hand, maybe using a big, long pry bar, with the wheels off and the front on jack stands? Not sure if it can be done without loosening the lower control cam nuts a bit, though.

 

I just did this the other day using a hill in my yard.
Changing the positioning of the truck would allow you to lift a front wheel as well.

Would something like this work? Or do you need to know full compression?

 

Gotta remove the spring. That spring can rebound your 7000lb truck. Won’t be able to beat that by hand

 

I played a little with my ramps at the house. They are only about 6" though. (I know that's what she said)

 

I'd prefer not to disassemble the shock...partly because its a paint but mostly because that doesn't tell me what type type of bump stop or bump stop extension I need and with my front sway bar I'm pretty sure getting to full compression while they're on the truck is not likely. Need to know real life up travel while on the truck.

 

What shock setup are you running

 

The only way to really know this is without springs. The shocks need to be mounted and you would jack up that side of the vehicle until it’s compressed all the way, then measure your bump stop distance. It’s a pain in the ass but it’s the only way I see to properly do this. Otherwise go off of someone else’s formula and what they came up with. Doing this with the springs on will not give you full travel as it would if you were out hitting the bumps while driving.

 

Elka 2.5

 

Call them and see if the compressed length matches the stock tundra shock.

I’ll bet it’s close

 

Get a case of bud light and take her out for a rip!

 

just called Franc at Elka to see if extensions were needed. Their engineers have been pretty good about getting me answers to questions so hopefully they reply back with an answer. Not sure why I did't just do that right away....

 

I would imagine elka wants the most travel possible, so having a similar collapsed length with stock would accomplish that. A arms have a fixed travel arc. So in reality bumpstop extensions just limit travel...

 

Unless they have a spacer lift LOL

 

Just heard back from Franc at Elka... They tested with factory bump stops... Says there is no need to get extensions.