Was the buggy purchased new? I ask because the stock shocks on the 48.3 can easily go well past those Lutz setup numbers with the set screws for droop screwed all the way in.

If you built the kit from new, than you have some kind of build problem with either the set screws in the a-arms or a build problem with the shocks. Take a front and a rear shock off the mounts and measure their length fully extended, you should have something well past the 119.5 and 134.5 that Lutz has on the setup sheet, I do not recall the shock length and not going to remove to find out. If the shocks are not that long than you have a shock package from another kit.

The only other area to check is how you threaded the set screws into the a-arms. See that you have the set screw pulled all the way up giving the most amount of droop, see if anything is obstructing the movement of the a-arms.

Report back..

Shock length, unless I'm misreading your post, is a static measurement wih no load on the shock. In other words, you don't measure it with the car sitting with weight on wheels. It's not the same as setting shock preload and chassis ride height with your spring shock collars.

Reason I say this is that you mention you tried different springs to get the right shock length. That would indicate to me you were interpreting shock length as preload. I may be way off on this and I don't mean to sound like I'm stating the obvious, just thought this may help you understand better.

Also, if this helps clarify, I measure shock length always with the shocks off the car and after every rebuild or fluid change.

This is a pic of my 48.2 that I just upgraded to a .3.

Any pics? Do the arms move freely with no shocks attached? I'm running Joe's setup which I believe has more droop then Lutz's and I'm not having any problems. I measure my shock length with car on a stand, shocks attached and no wheels from eye (middle) of shock tower mounting screw to eye (middle) of arm shock mounting screw. They both have dimples for calipers to kind of set in. I use the droop screws to adjust the shock length.

I read his post the same way.

edit: ignore me ....

3 post up someone posted a pic of a.2 upgraded to a.3

This was in fact a brand new kit. I just built it last week.

I did in fact screw the droop screws all the way in and I still had no luck. I will get the car out soon and take some measurements with corresponding pictures and see what you all think.

I had a spare set of EB48.2 rear shocks (which are the same as EB48.3 front shocks) and I get 120.5 for length off of the vehicle and fully extended, from center of eyelet to center of eyelet. I screw things in extremely tight (shock cap, eyelet, and cartridge...and I mean take a full size crescent wrench to it and crank on it kind of tight), so if anything mine might be slightly shorter than some others.

One thing I will note though, is that with your mention of 15-20 short I think you may have the EB48.2 shocks (without looking, of course), which are also the same as the SCT410.3 or EB48SL shocks. My front measures to 105 on my EB48.2, but 120 on my EB48.3, as they're sitting on my shelf right now with my setups on them (which both have mostly full droop on the front).

Please measure the shock body length and the shaft length, as those should make it obvious where the issue is.

Ok guys here are the pics. Maybe I did build the shocks wrong?? I guess I don't know how, the shock shafts and bodies are only so long to begin with. It seems as thought the shock shaft is extending all the way out. I'm open to suggestions. I'm stumped.

I have 3 pics (these are the front shocks) I have the same issue with the rear, but at least they're longer than 120 but I can't get them to 134 like I need.

One pic has the collar all the way up

One pic has the collar all the way down

The last pic has the shock extended all the way on the table, it is just a hare past 120mm

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...psdacncav9.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...pshqh0jtvy.jpg
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...pssgxef3vn.jpg

In the first two pictures, it looks like you are measuring the shock length with them loaded. If you put the car on a stand and then measure the shock length, what do you get?

I get about 124. How do I shorten the shocks with the car on a stand? There's no resistance on the collars to regulate the length

With the droop screws with car still on stand. The arms will eventually start to raise so you can get the shock length you are looking for.

Use the collars to get ride height.

LOL I'm an idiot!

Nah, just not familiar with all the terminology and methods yet. Glad we managed to get it sorted out for you! :)