Question: School me on shock Absorber locations

[2004LB7]

I have always wondered why it seems that every manufacture stagers the shocks on the rear axle. usually driver side points to the rear and passenger to front.

other than for clearance, such as for gas tank and exhaust pipe, is there any other reason for this arrangement? does it help dampen rotational oscillations or vibrations better than if both shocks were on the same side?

is there any negative effects of placing both shocks on the same side of the axle, ether pointing forward or to the rear?

 

[Dan@PPE]

They are designed that way to help eliminate axle wrap or wheel "hop"

 

[2004LB7]

thanks dan. that is what i was kind of thinking it was for. how effective is that though. i have seen some where both were pointing back for racing to "get better traction". if one had traction bars or something else to control axle wrap would the placement of the shocks make much of a difference in performance?

 

[clrussell]

From what I understand and remember. The factory shock locations suck for anything other than factory. As dan said they are like that for wheel hop reasons. The best application for racing is both shocks on the rear of the axle pointing straight up. Obviously have to have bars for this application though.