Shocks

Vanspeed

Vanspeed

Well-known member
Hi gang,
I swapped the shocks from my coupe to my roadster because I am road testing some Goliath shocks to see how they perform. The shocks that came off of my coupe were original to the car and they look like the houdaille shock but the name is not there. All there is are patent numbers and “hydraulic suspension” they are stamped just like the houdaille shocks. I want to re-seal them but don’t know if the internals are the same. They look exactly like them but there is no name on them. What are these shocks? Early replacements?
 

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I would imagine the rebuild kits have the seals you need. If the wing shaft is worn, new seals most likely won't solve your problem.
 
Over the years since the 1960s, there have been reproductions of the Model A's Houdaille shocks. For example, I have a set on my Coupe made by Pete of Chicago. Some of these reproduction shocks have no identity on their covers. Some are not rebuildable, and for some there are no parts available. Perhaps you can get a rebuilt original. Try Bert's in Colorado. Good luck.
 
Vanspeed said:
Hi gang,
I swapped the shocks from my coupe to my roadster because I am road testing some Goliath shocks to see how they perform. The shocks that came off of my coupe were original to the car and they look like the houdaille shock but the name is not there. All there is are patent numbers and “hydraulic suspension” they are stamped just like the houdaille shocks. I want to re-seal them but don’t know if the internals are the same. They look exactly like them but there is no name on them. What are these shocks? Early replacements?
Click to expand...
There were several shock covers used on Model As over the years, depending upon who actually made the shocks - Houdaille, Spicer, etc. The Restoration Guidelines and Judging Standards has diagrams of them.
 
As Bob mentions, your shocks look like the repros made in the 1970's by Peter Bucek (sp) from Chicago. I had a set on a car years ago and they worked fine. Not sure what they look like mechanically inside, but it's almost a given that no parts are available for them.
 
That’s discouraging to hear. I was hoping that for some reason the Houdaille name was dropped for some reason. I don’t have the budget to buy new shocks, they are not cheap. I think I will take one apart and see what they look like inside. If it’s a seal that went bad perhaps I can find something that will work. Thanks for the replies.
 
You likely will have to upgrade your "tooling" if you want to disassemble a shock. Original tools are shown in "Ford Model A - construction operation repair" by Victor Page. This book is probably the first "enthusiast" book - but originated and printed while the Model A was still being made.

And the tooling available.

Of particular note is the Page "strap" type wrench - which is not like modern pipe "strap" wrenches, but one wonders if a modern strap wrench might substitute. It takes severe levels of torque to remove the cover without additional preparation.

I've banged the perimeter of a cover with a 2lb machinists hammer as an attempt to break the "rust bond" prior to wrenching.

And a four foot pipe wrench of the stilson pattern is NOT recommended - they "collapse" the covers from opposite sides which make removal harder.

I've considered using "electrolysis" as a way to loosen covers - at least one online source recommends electrolysis to "break the rust bond" on a mechanical fastener connection - and my experience on other items indicates this works.

A "foundational" mount will be a help. A 15" tree stump left from a tree cutting but still in the ground is pretty foundational - and 6" lag/shaft hanger bolts work to hold a large vise, or even the shock itself.

It will be a challenge - which is why folks like Brentwood Bob exist.

One imagines that Bob has the capability to "billet" recreate internals to the shock. Perhaps the biggest challenge?

Joe K
 
Houdaille or Houde Engineering had to start changing their products when Ford and other companies started changing over to aircraft strut style piston shocks back in 1947. They still made several types of hydraulic dampers such as the stabilizer bar dampers on the Bell 47 helicopters. They started manufacturing other auto parts, machine tools and industrial equipment of all kinds just to diversify. They managed to stay in business till 1987 when they had to liquidate after a leveraged buy out in 1979 went south.

There are still reproduction shocks being made as replacements and some have no markings. Bill Stipe shocks were better than the ones originally manufactures by Houdaille but the expense and time to manufacture them is likely one reason a person can't get them any more. They require a lot of precision machining of parts to fabricate them. The CNC machines are expensive to purchase and operate too. That was likely the only way Stipe could justify manufacturing them but I don't know what really happened there. I just know that the flow stopped when he relocated.
 
That is why I am wondering about these shocks. This car never left California before I purchased it and the condition of the car tells me these shocks wee on it , for a long time. They are beautiful, they look exactly like the houdaille and have all the same stampings but the houdaille is not there. I am going to take a cap off one and take a look. It’s only the front two that are leaking. They look nice inside the fill plug. Perhaps I may just need to O ring the shaft.


rotorwrench said:
Houdaille or Houde Engineering had to start changing their products when Ford and other companies started changing over to aircraft strut style piston shocks back in 1947. They still made several types of hydraulic dampers such as the stabilizer bar dampers on the Bell 47 helicopters. They started manufacturing other auto parts, machine tools and industrial equipment of all kinds just to diversify. They managed to stay in business till 1987 when they had to liquidate after a leveraged buy out in 1979 went south.

There are still reproduction shocks being made as replacements and some have no markings. Bill Stipe shocks were better than the ones originally manufactures by Houdaille but the expense and time to manufacture them is likely one reason a person can't get them any more. They require a lot of precision machining of parts to fabricate them. The CNC machines are expensive to purchase and operate too. That was likely the only way Stipe could justify manufacturing them but I don't know what really happened there. I just know that the flow stopped when he relocated.
Click to expand...
 
If you go deeper, keep in mind houdaille shocks could be structurally "variable." (i.e possibly inconsistently made.) To counter this one rebuilding instruction I have advises "as you disassemble, be sure to keep any small balls and their place of origin recorded - also any lead plugs."

Another rebuilding instruction I've seen recommends "baking" the shocks in a charcoal grill to aid disassembly. This would obviously toast any lead plugs and the rubber seals.

The first instruction (which I consider more credible) advised that about 1/3 of houdaille he could not get true 60-40 function, and a buyer of his rebuilds might have to settle for 50-50 action as "the best he could do."

Not mentioned if the differences were "original", were related to the differences between shocks (they may have been sold to Ford like that), or even resulting from the methods rebuilder was using for rebuilding.

So keep good record of your disassembly...

I'll have to find that first instruction - I currently have a plastic box containing about 8 houdaille type shocks that were given to me. The gifter was converting to "bolt-on" tubular shocks.

Joe K
 
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There are 54 different original shocks. Once successfully disassembled the shock can attempt to be rebuilt. Don’t mix parts. I don’t do any machining. Experience is your teacher.
 
Update!
I ordered a shock seal replacement set and decided to see what I could see. I pulled the cover off and checked things. Cleaned them, added fluid, re-assembled and watched for leaks. I don’t beleive the cover seal was leaking as I got nothing there but they did leak at the adjuster/jam nut. I pulled them, re-packed them (the original packing looked like little wet rope) and assembled them again. Adjusted them and gave them 24 hours while moving the arms back and forth occasionally and there are no leaks. They feel great.
 

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Considering the difficulty of restoring original shocks, given the high cost of reproduction Houdaille shocks, considering the propensity of Houdaille shocks to leak and given the relatively poor performance of original shocks, I would convert to telescoping modern shocks if I do another restoration / service replacement.
 
Original shocks, when new, performed very well. Resistance capacity ranges from minutes to "hold" for an indefinite period of time. Bill Stipe shocks have the same resistance capacity as the originals did, when new. Modern tube shocks are not designed specifically for the Model A and tend to have a stiffer, more harsh ride than is comfortable for casual driving.
 
Just an FYI ................. Shocks made by Pete Buciack in the 70's usually had a Ford script on the cover and Made in Chicago USA (Or Chicago,IL) somewhere on the cover as well. Wording may be slightly different on the "made in", but I have several in my shock pile and they all have Ford Script. As mentioned elsewhere, most internal parts are not interchangeable with original parts.
 
John Holland rebuilt my 1930 model A front shocks. He described them as "not original" but well made and re-buildable. He said most are not worth rebuilding. I've had them a month and have put on a few hundred miles on them; no leaks.
 
There are a variety of adjustable stiffness telescoping shocks so the ride quality can be adjusted to the driver's liking.
 
I have four "M&S" Shocks waiting in a box.

The longer term reports on M&S are generally not good.

Joe K
 
while the "rebuild" may seem good now- wait till theyre on the car and under weight.


May be a diff outcome.
 
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