Shock Type and Length Confusion

[Basher67]

After receiving a lot of nip shock bodies, I went through my collection of cars and parts to see which shocks could use fresh new bodies and I realized that I never noticed before how many different types and lengths of rc10 shocks there are. Makes me wonder if I have the correct shocks on a couple of my gold pans. When did AE go from the old style shocks to the newer "top loader" style? Also, it seems silly now, but I've never really paid attention to the different shock lengths. I've always just thought of fronts and rears, buggy and truck. Buggies had .56 and .71 fronts? 1.02 and 1.32 rears? Which is correct for what car? What is the appropriate length shaft for the different size bodies? I've looked all over this sight and elsewhere looking for a chart or some info. Hoping someone can clear this all up for me or direct me to a link for some info.

[mikea96]

.56 front shocks were on the narrow arm buggies then when the wide arm cars came out they went to .71 fronts. All the rc10 tub cars had 1.32 rears and the 1.02 shocks started on the front of the 10t.

[Basher67]

Now that makes sense, except that I have a nip part no. 6454 shock body that is the light gold ano in an edinger address package that is a .71 shock body. This is from before there were ever long arms right?

[mikea96]

That is true and not sure what that would have been used on.

[jwscab]

Bottom load shocks were available in .56, .71, but the .71 were listed as an options.

Front could be
.56
.71
.89
1.02 truck

Rears could be:
1.32
1.32 with 1.02 shafts world's car
1.18
1.39 t3 and gt?

[Basher67]

That clears up some of it. When was the change made from bottom to top loading shocks?

[scr8p]

Top load shocks showed up on the late 6 gear CE's and team cars.

[Basher67]

So in the beginning, .56 came in the kit and .71 was an option. So did .71 become standard in the kits with the intro of long arms and .89 became the option? My stealth trans CE has .71 top loaders with black caps.

[jwscab]

Yes to further break it down, the introduction of the long Arms brought the top load .71. The bottom load .71 we're not in a production kit.

The .89 were on b2 b3 b4

[Basher67]

That's what I needed. Thanks for the help guys

[Incredible_Serious]

In a similar vein, is there a list of the standard length of all these shocks, if built following the instructions? A little while back I picked up some NIP #6442 1.02 fronts and #6444 1.32 rears, and have been tossing up whether to install them on a project or sell them off to fund something else. Knowing their length may help me make the decision.... I'd hate to take them out of the packaging and then realise they didn't fit! A lot of this Associated stuff is snake-oil to me....

Alex

[Basher67]

With this info and my newly acquired pile of shock parts, I'm thinking that some bottom loader .71's would be a cool upgrade to my cadillac shelf queen since they are era correct factory option parts Also, I found bottom loaders on my graphite car. It was built entirely from spare parts I had laying around , so not sure if those are correct. I'll have to check the timeline to see if those should be swapped out for top loaders.

[bluewormx]

It is more conplicated,

The 0.56'" bottom load where also standard on graphite cars.
0.71" bottom load where first used on Championship edition cars until replaced by top loaders.

[broodenburg]

Bottom load shocks were available in .56, .71, but the .71 were listed as an options.

Front could be
.56
.71
.89
1.02 truck

Rears could be:
1.32
1.32 with 1.02 shafts world's car
1.18
1.39 t3 and gt?

1.39 Bottom load shocks for the t3, gt, and t4 (and gt2 I guess...)

[blubblood]

On the other end, what are the eye-to-eye lengths for the various shocks? I'm looking for a pair of 60mm-ish and a pair of 80mm-ish. I can't find the narrow, stock-style shocks. They're all fat 'big bore' style.