Micro469 wrote:I see that the C channel is way too high. Can't you just swing the shock down and mount it to the angle iron that the spring is mounted on?
Not having shocks, I probably don't know what I'm talking about....
no, the angle of the shock and the in/out plane would be all wrong. The shock also needs to be protected from over extension or compression. I started out with the shock mounted to the axle and then started moving it around to see where it would have to be located to be functional.
I like what Herr Finn did with the cross member, very clever. I've seen cross-mounted shocks on the rear of off road pickup trucks that have limited vertical space for suspension.
I guess while we're discussing this, "shock absorbers" as we call them in the states don't actually "absorb shock" (springs or torsion bars do this). A more accurate name might be "dampers" which I believe is what the Brits call them. They serve to damp out oscillations of the suspension, which enhances compliance (compliance is a very good thing in suspension).