Shock Boss, 1/2 Unthreaded Holle, 1-3/4 Long, Each

Unleash Professional Strength with the EMPI Weld-On Shock Boss

When you''re pushing your air-cooled VW to the limit on the dunes or through technical off-road trails, your suspension geometry and mounting points are the only things standing between a successful run and a catastrophic failure. The EMPI Shock Boss is engineered for the serious fabricator who demands a heavy-duty, reliable solution for custom shock mounting. Crafted from high-quality, weldable steel, this 1-3/4 inch long boss provides a massive surface area for a secure weld, ensuring that your shock mounts can handle the punishing vertical loads and lateral stresses of high-travel suspension systems. Whether you''re building a dedicated Baja Bug, a high-performance sandrail, or a custom tube-chassis buggy, these bosses offer the structural integrity required to keep your dampers pinned and performing exactly as intended.

The unthreaded 1/2-inch inside diameter is a deliberate choice for maximum versatility and strength. By utilizing an unthreaded hole, this boss allows for a through-bolt configuration, which is the gold standard in off-road racing. This design enables you to use high-grade Grade 8 or 12.9 hardware with a nyloc nut, eliminating the risk of stripped threads that can occur with integrated threaded mounts under extreme vibration. The 1-inch outside diameter provides a thick wall that resists ovaling and deformation over time, even when subjected to the relentless cycling of heavy-duty off-road shocks. At Appletree Automotive, we know that fabrication is about precision and durability, and this EMPI component delivers both in a package that is ready to be burnt into your chassis or control arms right out of the box.

Vehicle and Project Fitment

As a universal fabrication component, the Shock Boss is designed to be welded onto any steel surface. It is most commonly used in the following applications:

• VW Beetle & Super Beetle: Ideal for custom rear shock towers or front beam bracing in Baja conversions.
• Volkswagen Karmann Ghia: Used in performance street or autocross suspension reinforcements.
• VW Bus (Type 2): Perfect for heavy-duty shock upgrades on Transporters, Campers, and Westfalias.
• Volkswagen Type 3: Custom suspension fabrication for Notchbacks, Squarebacks, and Fastbacks.
• Sandrails & Dune Buggies: Essential for mounting front and rear shocks to 1.5-inch or 1.75-inch tubing.
• Manx-Style Buggies: Heavy-duty mounting points for shorter wheelbase, high-impact fiberglass bodies.
• Custom Off-Road Projects: Suitable for any 4x4 or off-road vehicle requiring a 1/2-inch bolt-on shock eyelet.

Technical Specifications

• Inside Diameter: 1/2 Inch (Unthreaded).
• Outside Diameter: 1 Inch.
• Total Length: 1-3/4 Inches.
• Material: High-Strength Mild Steel (Weldable).
• Quantity: Sold Individually (Each).
• Manufacturer: EMPI.
• Part Number: FAB-3002.
• Finish: Raw Steel (Requires coating after welding to prevent corrosion).

Pro Tips from the Appletree Shop

Pro Tip 1: Perfect Alignment with a Dummy Bolt. When welding your shock bosses into place, always use a long 1/2-inch "dummy" bolt and a spacer that matches the width of your shock eyelet. This ensures that the two bosses (if you are doing a double-shear mount) remain perfectly concentric and parallel during the welding process. Without a spacer and bolt to hold them in alignment, the intense heat of the weld can cause the metal to pull or warp, making it nearly impossible to slide your shock bolt through once the metal cools.

Pro Tip 2: Prioritize Deep Penetration Welds. Because these bosses are 1 inch in diameter with a thick wall, they require significant heat to ensure a proper bond to your chassis or control arm. We recommend chamfering the edge of the boss where it meets the mounting surface to create a "V" groove. This allows for deeper weld penetration. If you are welding to thin-wall tubing, be careful not to blow through the tube, but ensure the boss itself is hot enough to flow the puddle into the base metal for a structural connection that won''t shear off under load.

Pro Tip 3: Don''t Forget the Rust Prevention. Since these are raw steel components designed for welding, they will begin to develop surface rust almost immediately if exposed to moisture. Once your welds have cooled and you have cleaned off any slag or spatter, make sure to prep the area with a high-quality zinc-rich primer or chassis paint. For the best results in high-vibration environments, many builders prefer a powder coat finish or a specialized "chassis black" epoxy paint to ensure the mounting point remains protected against the elements for years to come.