Shock test: 39 peeekup

[Clem Clement]

I jacked up my 39 Peeekup today to see how far the rear spring leaves would separate. (As I type I realize I jacked it up wrong. The jack is on the punkin, not the frame so I will do it again.) Anyway while jacked on the punkin, I pushed sideways on the door top. The truck rolls easily side to side. I'm guessing this ease of motion indicated the front shocks are bad. Jumping up and down on the bumpers results in a car bouce that returns to still in one bounce.
clem

 

[Mart]

Rocking the car with the rear jacked up under the diff is not a fair test of the shocks.
bouncing on the front bumper is a better test - if it stops within one bounce they are probably perfectly serviceable.
Try undoing or removing them and seeing how the front bounces then - you can then feel how much resistance they have individually and how effective they are when reconnected.
Mart.

 

[Clem Clement]

Thanks. All my old tricks involving a BFH and shock arm don't work- I'm too old to get a good swing. I guess I could unbolt the shocks themselves.

On the issue of spreading the spring leaves, I've got the 3rd member hanging from the springs but there is not much separation of leaves. I'm sure I should not take it down and remove the spring leaf guides/clamps? From what I can see, there is some goo between theleaves that did separate and I'm guessing that provides enough lubrication. I'm also figuring that the squawking is coming from rusty shackle bolts. I'm really not interested in tackling the shackle bolts at this time.
Clem