Hi all,
I've searched and i haven't found an example of this on an XJ. I want to use Ford part #e5tz-18183-a. I know these are used in the TJ community. Does anyone have experience with using these for a rear shock relocation? I'm good with cutting and welding. I want to use it as a shock tower into the cab. I'm thinking i'll cut through the floor and weld it to the outside of the frame without cutting the frame. i haven't ordered these yet so i don't have a way to do a mock up. Any thoughts before i buy them?

 

I would use something thicker like http://www.boostwerksengineering.com...wers_p_21.html

 

I was trying to do this on the cheap and also not have a tie bar across the back of the jeep. I know that good and cheap don't usually mix. I could weld the ford product to the frame and also gusset the sides and at the top of the jeep frame. I'll be raising my gas tank at the same time so the back end of the jeep will be cut open and I'll weld in a tie bar at frame level to tie into. These towers are used on trucks so I'm thinking they shouldn't be that flimsy. I am not an engineer and if I don't find someone who has used these then I might abandon the ideal and try to fab something out of square tubing.

 

You're going to want some kind of lateral bracing between the shocks near where they mount.

 

I have something similar but with a roll cage on the inside.

 

Welded would be fine. bolting them in with plates or frame stiffeners on each side would be good too.
You'd probably need to trim them to fit and then redrill holes. You could also drill extra holes to use as a welding area to help attach them.
They are pretty beefy, and I've used them before. My previous YJ had them welded in with 16" travel shocks, they did stick up a bit more but I had NO bracing and they were fine. (altho I did have a "frame" to weld them to)
It's not like you hitting bumps in a trophy truck.

 

Krakker you are right, just received my order and these shock towers are way beefier than I expected. I think I'll have to do some kind of frame reinforcement in the rear to hold these thing on. I'll post pictures of the build once I get going. I plan to do a gas tank raise at the same time so maybe I can do some sort of top bracing across the back with the tank cover I hope to build. It's ambitious with only an angle grinder but I figure doable just might take a little longer.

 

Sound interesting

 

Towers are in. Trial run this weekend. I'll let you know. It seems plenty sturdy enough but the trail will tell.

 

Hey TOOCNTRY, I like what your doing with the shock towers. When I first thought about doing shock towers I thought about doing them that way but I'm not a welder. For anyone considering rear shock towers, here is a link to what I did. A little more bolt in rather than weld in. Granted, the towers and spring plates had to be welded together. https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f58/re...towers-174456/

 

nice work man. how did the trial run go? those look great. They're simple, out of the way, and plenty strong. any plans for some bracing? While you won't see any immediate issues, those towers are acting as giant levers twisting the frame back and forth under suspension cycle. I'd imagine you'll see some fatigue after a couple seasons without some cross bracing

 

How did the run go????

 

My mind wouldn't let me picture these in, could be lack of sleep. Glad I stuck around, looking at some different options for rear shock mounts myself once I get my project started. Are you going to enclose the cuts in the fender wells? Fabric/Metal? Love the idea, thanks for sharing!

 

I like it. I think if you tie the upper mount into the wheel well it would stiffen it up enough without a need for a cross bar between mounts. Would also close that area in at the same time. Looks good, let us know how it's holding up.

 

So looking straight down from the top shock mounting holes, is that directly above the lower shock holes on the spring plate? It looks like the shock will be angled outwards at the top. Does your tire get into that area?