So I went looking for shocks for my project and ran into a snag: front "axle" rating.
I am unsure as to what it would be rated for, apparently there was a 3800lb axle and a 4000lb axle. It's interesting that they would say "axle" even though we are talking about an IFS truck here, but whatever. The truck has a 9000lb GVWR and my googling left me with the impression that all 9000lb trucks had the 4000lb axle.

That true? Please enlighten me so I don't fly off the road.

 

I would imagine that would be true, since the lighter trucks had around a 7-8000lb gross weight. You could possibly try a vin decoder, though I'm not sure how far back they go. My axle rating is posted right inside my driver's door. I had thought the only difference in the axles was the size of the bearings, though I could be completely wrong. Can you get the dimensions of the shocks for both axles? Maybe they are interchangeable.

On another note, I wish my truck had a 9000lb gross That would be 4500lbs of payload! Thats a whole second truck!

 

from what i can see on rock auto the only difference it the compressed and extended length. i guess you might have to try measuring one.
3000lb ones
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/more...356&cc=1085420
4000lb ones
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/more...392&cc=1085420

axle ratings in the door seem to be pretty useless. it didn't help find the right brake rotor for my truck. i had to have the parts store order one of each rotor to find the right one.

 

I had looked on Rockauto and that's what has me confused. The front end sags a bit but I am not sure if that's because the shocks are ancient or if they are not the correct length. And as far as measuring them, Hell no. Them suckers are staying in there til it is time to replace them.

 

i would guess the front end on your truck sits low because of how old the front springs are. the only thing i think you could do is lift the center of the front end to try to get the wheels off the ground and get the shocks fully extended and then measure.

 

I might be able to try that.
Or I could just try blind luck and say it has the 4k front end.

(which I really think it does, this truck is pretty HD for a non-440)

 

i guess thats one way to look at it. since they are longer they should continue to work if you decide to lift the front end.

 

I want to lift it.

Really badly.

Problem is I don't think the factory control arms have that much give in them.

 

have you seen SixGun's truck? you can get a fair bit of lift out of stock 2wd parts. you just need better springs that will not settle as much as the stock ones. he has a 2" suspension lift and 3" body lift and it looks mean with 33's

 

I've seen it, but I didn't realize he was running stock control arms.