rear shocks do they need to be parrallel

[jimg1au]

my long tracker swing arm shock mounts are 15mm wider than the mounts on the frame.so the shocks are not parallel.
will the shocks work like this or do I have to mount the shocks on the outside of the frame to make them parallel.
jim

[mick25]

maybe not husky shocks are way off being straight they are more than 15mm.
 they may wear internally on one side of the shocks
Off road buggies have there shocks on huge angles.

[JohnnyO]

No they don't need to be parallel but will need spherical bearings in the shock eyes at each end ala Husky. As the shocks compress the angle from parallel will increase..

[mick25]

No they don't need to be parallel but will need spherical bearings in the shock eyes at each end ala Husky. As the shocks compress the angle from parallel will increase..

I have a set of husky ohlins at my place at the mow , thanks jonny now I realise why they have spherical bearings
you learn something new every day

[KTM47]

As John said they don't have to be.  An easy way to see if everything is working OK.  Mount them without the springs on and see if they go through their travel without any restriction.
 

[jimg1au]

so I need to put  spherical bearings in the shocks
any one could post a pic
jim

[David Lahey]

It depends on shockie length and shockie shaft travel. Husky twinshocks are a good example of a design that definitely needs spherical bearings, while the Cota 172 trials bike is also considerably narrower at the top mounts, but has no problems using just flex in the bushings.
Whatever you use, do make sure that the mounting pivot axes are perpendicular to the centre lines of the shocks when the shocks are at half travel (to minimise the side loading on the mounts)