Where to get better shocks?

[Seth Swoboda]

That's great advice. I might also add that as I recall the front end on OldHenry's car is drooping real bad. Most likely a worn out spring. I would think that too may put "undue" stress on a shock. Yes? No?

I haven't seen OldHenry's front spring but I know folks in my area that have a worn out front spring that is nearly flat with no arch left. It does affect the ride height of the car/truck. I would say yes, having a worn out front spring is not good for the ride. It wouldn't be a bad idea for anyone to replace worn out front or rear springs.

 

[A bones]

OKAY. I have a product name I just read of. RideTech at 812-481-4787 or www.ridetech.com They are straight axle specific, and come in two lengths. Oh yeah almost forgot the warranty is for 1,000,001 miles.

 

[1oldtimer]

I would say that worn springs only come into play from either bottoming or topping out the shock. Also the shock being at odd angles is taken up by both eyes and the piston so no side load on the seal (or very little). The extra action of the shock from worn springs might shorten the seal life over a LONG time from extra use, but not that quickly. I would like to know how long the other shocks lasted and did both Monroes leak or just one side. Below is my install on the '47. I almost forgot, most of the major brands have and online catalog that has some sort of measurement chart.

 

[jimTN]

First, determine the dimensions as discussed above, this is critical. Then, you can buy shocks by the dimensions, If you tell some parts counter jockey what they fit they will automatically tell you their books do not go back that far. I suspect you may have some shocks bottoming out. I have run airplane shocks of lots of old Fords in years past with really hard use and not had any leak but always matched them up by measurement. Of course you go go back to the original type lever action shocks which work well. I can tell you that 46-8 Fords have a weak front spring and do require rearch or replacement often.

 

[Old Henry]

I'm not sure where anyone got the idea that my front spring was worn out or sagging. I had it made brand new by a local spring manufacturer when I restored the car in 2007 so it's only 7 years old.

My shock installation is totally stock original so nothing wrong or unusual about it. I know the aftermarket add on shock kits that attach the bottom end of the shock to the sway bar bracket instead of the end of the axle move more vertical than Ford's design but, if you look at any modern vehicles that have tube shocks (the rear axle of any pickup is easy to see), they are always at at least a 60° angle so that's not the problem.

It was only the shock in my picture that sprung a leak but I replaced both.

When I replaced those month old shocks last Wednesday with new ones I checked the travel on the blown shock by disconnecting the top end and pushing it clear down and it still had twice as much travel as the distance between my axle and the rubber bumper thingy that it hits when it bottoms out so I didn't hit the limit of the shock travel to cause the damage.

It was just a defective shock. I got two new ones to replace both and just drove 875 miles on them in the last three days. They rode nice just like they should.

All alternate suppliers of shocks that have been recommended do not list any shock for my car and the RideTech shocks don't even have dust covers to keep the dirt off of the shaft. They appear to be made just for hot rods and street rods and other racing and performance vehicles, not the touring vehicles like mine is.

But, thanks for all of your responses and help anyway.

 

[Mart]

I'm not sure where anyone got the idea that my front spring was worn out or sagging. I had it made brand new by a local spring manufacturer when I restored the car in 2007 so it's only 7 years old.

Prof, with all due respect.

There are three things that would suggest this front end isn't as tip top as you are assuming.

1, The end of the spring shouldn't be bending up like that.
2, The bush in the end of the spring looks well worn.
3, The bush in the perch looks well worn too.

The parts may have been brand new only 7 years ago, but with the mileage you do, and taking into account your like for unpaved roads, these parts will take a pounding.

It may also be an issue associated with repro parts.

I'm not "calling" you on this, you asked why people might think your front end was sagging. It may be something you might like to schedule for some attention at a convenient point in time.

I'm glad you got the shocker sorted out and long may you continue with your tours and the excellent photo commentaries that we all enjoy so much.

Mart.

 

[Old Henry]

I see what you mean.

When I took my broken up original spring into the spring manufacturer he didn't have leaves as thin as mine so he put fewer but thicker ones in the same space to try to duplicate the original. I knew nothing of the Ford Barn, NOS, nor even Ebay back then so did the only thing I could think of. The spring has worked fine for me so far. The car drives straight down the road and doesn't stop and doesn't bottom out as long as the shocks are working. And it sits as level as my eye can tell in photos (the most important thing, of course ) so I'll just keep on keepin' on until it don't work no mo'.

Picture taken Friday.

Old Henry looks level enough to me. If someone got out their micrometer to measure they may find a fault but they would miss the main point of the image.

 

[Pete]

" so I'll just keep on keepin' on until it don't work no mo'."

You might consider what Mart said again. Both the upper and lower shackle bushings are extremely worn. If you let these go too long you will be looking at new spring perches and you don't want to go there.
They are expensive and if the old ones have to be machined out, that can get very expensive also.

While the spring has sagged a bit on the ends, it will probably be ok for quite awhile.

 

[Old Henry]

I had actually bought new upper shackle bolts and bushings to replace them but tried to remove them and could not get them out so I guess they stay. If they were really worn I'd think they would pop right out but they don't. I don't have all of those fancy presses and other gadgets that the rest of you have so am limited in my options. Those bolts and bushings have been in there for 234,000 miles so I'm expecting they will be good for a few more. The lower ones were new with the spring 7 years ago. I'll keep my eye on them.

Thanks for the suggestions.

P.S. Just curious. What do you see in the picture that suggests that the bushings are worn? I'm not seeing anything.

 

[V8COOPMAN]

I had actually bought new upper shackle bolts and bushings to replace them but tried to remove them and could not get them out so I guess they stay. If they were really worn I'd think they would pop right out but they don't. I don't have all of those fancy presses and other gadgets that the rest of you have so am limited in my options. Those bolts and bushings have been in there for 234,000 miles so I'm expecting they will be good for a few more. The lower ones were new with the spring 7 years ago. I'll keep my eye on them.

Thanks for the suggestions.

P.S. Just curious. What do you see in the picture that suggests that the bushings are worn? I'm not seeing anything.

That spring appears rusted, heavily pitted and bent, as suggested by others. The shackle bolts are not centered in the hanger or in the spring eye, suggesting bushing failure. I'm still trying to figure-out this "restoration" you keep talking about. DD

 

[Mart]

What do you see in the picture that suggests that the bushings are worn? I'm not seeing anything.

Nothing more than the shackle nuts (hence centre) being well off-centre from the spring eye and the perch.

Changing perch bushes is a real swine. Some repro's are rubbish too, the od being too small to be a press fit in the spring or perch.

I think the spring bushes may be relatively simple to change on a 48. They are bushes rather than steel sleeved pins. I had a 46, but never changed the bushings. Only ever dealt with the more difficult steel sleeved pin/bush combo's used in the earlier jobs.

Mart.

 

[Old Henry]

I see what you mean about the shackle bolts being off center. Here's a better picture.

The off center spring bolt may well be an indication of wear of that bushing. But, when I last checked, the perch bolt was still tight (too tight to get out) of the upper hole that is not drilled in the middle of the perch. I guess I could check it by lifting the body up so the axle hangs and see if there's any movement of that upper bolt indicating wear. It's been a few years since I tried to replace that. I've never seen it move when I've lifted the body up and let the axle hang but maybe I wasn't looking closely enough. If it's truly worn loose in the hole it should be easy to change and I'll do that.

 

[Old Henry]

Now I see what you all have been talking about. Good eyes, guys.

That upper bushing really is worn out. In fact, there is a crack starting in the bottom of that perch underneath it so that bushing needs to be replaced and soon. Question is, how the heck do I get that thing out of there? As I said, I tried getting it out before with a lot of pounding and it didn't budge. What else?

 

[bobH]

Gads ! ... Look at the wear mark on the #3 leaf against #2 leaf. If I'm seeing this for what I think it is, this car has had some serious use.
Of course the bushing situation is bad too, as already noted. My passing comment... I gave up on factory, and repro parts here, many years ago. I went straight to the roddders - in particular the bushing parts made by Jim Gordon (Rosemead, ca, 626-288-2121) I've got his bushing kits in two cars, several years, no problems. (One of my cars is a 47, same as shown here.)
(Yes, I know, not original, but when installed, hard to see that it's not stock)

 

[Old Henry]

Gads ! ... Look at the wear mark on the #3 leaf against #2 leaf. If I'm seeing this for what I think it is, this car has had some serious use.

That same wear is at the end of each leaf.

Darn tootin' this car has had some serious use, 62,000 miles since that spring was put on new 7 years ago.

A lot of it to these places:

Transcontinental Railroad Grade in May 2014: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=139471

City of Rocks, Idaho in April 2014:http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=137684

Capitol Reef National Park in March 2014: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=133018

Grouse Creek and the AAA garage in February 2014: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=130966

Grand Canyon in January 2014: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=128820

Moab, UT in December 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=127222

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument November 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123694

Across Nevada on US 50, "The Loneliest Road in the Country", October 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=120098

Mount Evans (the highest paved road in North America) August 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=115013

Canada in June 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109872

Monument Valley in March 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99523

Bryce Canyon in February 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=97822

Milford, Utah in December 2012: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93137

Nevada and Idaho in November 2012: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89080

Rocky Mountain National Park in September 2012: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83966

Yellowstone National Park in May 2012: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72864

Death Valley in February 2012: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62705

Pike's Peak in July 2011: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19141

Route 66 in April 2010: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57511

 

[Old Henry]

This thread continued here: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?p=898947&posted=1#post898947

 

[DadsForty]

I always enjoy your travel post Old Henry. I don't post often but read the Ford Barn every day. I think the concern is something failing at the least opportune time. I recently changed the shackles, etc.. on the 40 Ford. Was surprised at the wear in the bushing and the bolt. It was a pig of a job but easier to do in the garage than the desert. I am not fortunate to have a fancy shop but was able to do the job with lots of elbow grease and profanity.