modern shock upgrade

slatgrille

slatgrille

Senior Member
I was wondering the opinions of forum members as to which vendor has the best 'tube shock kit' to upgrade my driver RPU's suspension. I have searched through many sources; some say drilling needed or no drilling needed. Pics show different styles among suppliers too.

Mike's A-fordable, Tams, S & J, Brattons, all list the kits. Are there others I'm missing? Snyder's didn't show a listing.

Just want to get opinions before I decide. I THOUGHT about original style, but don't have any originals for a core trade nor the $$$ to do that. I intend to drive this thing for fun. To quote my cousin who gave me the project...'it's a go car, not a show car'.

Thanks for any and all opinions!

Craig
 
I bought a kit from Mike’s a couple of years ago for my ‘29 Tudor. They bolted right up, no drilling and I love the way the car rides.
 

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I recently replaced my tube shocks because they were Monroe gas filled and way too stiff for a lightweight A Coupe. Most of the retailer kits sell gas charged shocks. The oil-filled shocks I put on ride a thousand times better. Search them out on the WEB. They are EMPI oil filled for VWs (commonly used for dune buggies) in the 60's. Sorry I don't have the product number. The oil filled shocks are far better for lightweight A's......I don't know why the suppliers don't offer them in their kits.
 
I have just been doing some research on shock absorbers and arrived at the EMPI ones from a VW as being the ones I need, only EMPI is unknown here. Does anybody have a suggestion/
BTW, the EMPI part number I am after is 9650
 
I have been considering Ken Davis shocks for our Sedan, but have not pulled the trigger yet. It would be really nice to get some rotoshim or stipe shocks though, but the price for those is considerably higher. Some people report a harsh ride form tube shocks, but I wonder if they have spring sag and the shocks are bottoming on some vehicles.
 
I put the Ken Davis shocks on my '29 CCPU. I did drill the axle as those clamp on kits tend to shift after awhile.
 
Herb Concord Ca said:
Go to the EMPI website you should find a dealer in Australia.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, Herb. I found a dealer but he keeps no stock and I suspect they will cost an arm and a leg. Then there's the fact that he is about 740 miles from me.
Maybe a trip to the wrecker coming up to see what I can find but I'm trying to avoid having to redo the mounts.
 
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So, I guess the debate between gas filled vs. oil filled needs to be entered into the equation. Who has experience with them both?

If drilling required, what is the easiest? Don't want to deal with backing plates, but frame seems okay...

Thanks again all.

Craig
 
Three years ago, I installed Bratton's no drilling required shock set on our 29 Town Sedan. They installed fairly easily, and my set came with Napa Proformer powder coated shocks. Those shocks, along with a new set of Universal tires, gave the car an excellent ride.
 
I have the kit that attaches the rear shocks to a bracket bolted to the back of the backing plate on one of my cars. The bracket didn't last long before it broke - hundreds of miles from home, naturally. I'll do my own in future!
 
So, it sounds like the oil filled shocks are preferred. Are Ken Davis's shocks oil filled? Other vendors with oil filled shocks?
 
You specifically asked for opinions, so here goes: I have an issue with the use of the word "upgrade". Upgrade implies an improvement. My opinion, which you asked for, is that making a change to tubular shocks is not an improvement, it's just a change. There you have it.
 
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