General Tech Measuring for replacement shocks...CJ

Green-Tonka-CJ5

BEE-DUHB
Location
Midvale
So i have finally decided my rock hard suspension needs re working, and the shocks are the first to go. They have some 6 years on them and good wear and tear.

I whipped out a measuring tape and am not quite sure how to know what length of shock to get. With my jeep's weight on the springs/shocks, looks like i have 3 inches of travel rear axle, 4 inches front before the current shocks bottom out on themselves.

But measuring between bump stop and top of axle i should have 8"rear and 9" front. So should i re-measure and buy shocks that allow the axles to travel those full 8 and 9 inches?

It would be nice to get some decent flex as well off roading and not just lift tires on every obstacle. It gets scary almost tipping all the time :eek:

Thank you for reading and for any suggestions. Also its a 1980 cj5, very rough ride..... so any brand recommendations to smoothen out the ride would be appreciated as well.
 
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