Shocks Revisited!

[Bingster]

Okay, I know we have been there and done this before, but I am at the point of deciding whether to buy Monroe shocks for my '47 Desoto S-11 or maybe Kanter, as some other Desoto guys have done. Quite a price difference.

What again are the shock numbers for the front and rears?

I have heard on another Desoto forum of having to reinforce the Monroe shocks with a weld to strengthen them, which seems to me too much trouble to save a few bucks. Any body have any problems?

Are the Kanter shocks really that different from the Monroe?

[Plymouthy Adams]

I really don't think Kanter is producing a brand of shock but are retailer of known brands..either Monroe or Gabriel..about the biggest two name is US I think the biggest thing with Kanter is they are correct color etc for stock look...

[windsor8]

I got rear shock for my 48 Dodge at NAPA # RR 94008. Check the NAPA web site. Someone manufactures then for Kanter

[dirty dan]

Okay, I know we have been there and done this before, but I am at the point of deciding whether to buy Monroe shocks for my '47 Desoto S-11 or maybe Kanter, as some other Desoto guys have done. Quite a price difference.

What again are the shock numbers for the front and rears?

I have heard on another Desoto forum of having to reinforce the Monroe shocks with a weld to strengthen them, which seems to me too much trouble to save a few bucks. Any body have any problems?

Are the Kanter shocks really that different from the Monroe?

I haven't purchased them yet, but what was posted for the shocks was;

Front Shocks = 5752 Monroe (gas)

Rear Shocks = MA727 Monroe (air)

[YukonJack]

I haven't purchased them yet, but what was posted for the shocks was;

Front Shocks = 5752 Monroe (gas)

Rear Shocks = MA727 Monroe (air)

I thought if you used Gas Shocks you had to have all 4. Is it true you shouldn't mix them with non gas shocks?

[Captain Neon]

Not true at all. You are probably thinking of four wheel drive vehicles that have to have all four tyres/wheels the same size.

I've never even heard of air shocks for the front.

[adam_knox]

What's the significance of Monroe shocks? My car has some which I bought replacement shocks from autozone for 22 bucks each from Autozone today. I also bought rear shocks from napa for about the same price.

Are they performance? Somehow designed to be like the originals? Are other shocks not up to snuf for our 40's cars?

[adam_knox]

Sorry if that post seems like it has a wierd attitude or something, I have isomnia tonite and curious on the topic!

[Captain Neon]

Nothing particulary special about Monroe vs. Gabriel. Monroe is just a popular replacement brand. FYI, Monroe makes the NAPA-branded shocks.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Adam..with the shocks of today and the material, contruction etc..porting..I would say the shocks of today well exceed the quality and performance of the originals with the same appearance..Monroe and Gabriel are US names like Boge and Bilstein is in Europe..the only thing I will give Kanter credit for due to their high prices etc is that most times they are a "one-stop" shopping experience..most people like to just get it all, get it now and write the check and move on..

[dirty dan]

What's the significance of Monroe shocks? My car has some which I bought replacement shocks from autozone for 22 bucks each from Autozone today. I also bought rear shocks from napa for about the same price.

Are they performance? Somehow designed to be like the originals? Are other shocks not up to snuf for our 40's cars?

None that I'm aware of...Any parts store should be able to cross reference a Monroe part number.

[gnoub1948]

Bingster:

I just had my parts book out for someone else, and although you must have these numbers, here's the original part numbers just in case:

Front:

Monroe - K11148

Chrysler -

Chyrsler with Bushing - 1311033

Rear:

Monroe - K11149

Chrysler -

Chyrsler with Bushing - 1311034

Gary

[billwillard]

Hay guys, I see this all the time. Go to your local parts store first. NAPA,Carquest,Autozone,Advance,rallys or what ever. Ck them first and you will be suprised at what they can get you. A lot of times they can go from the orginal part #. Will save you a lot of GREEN STUF. On big ticket items ck them all as prices will vary as mush as 30-40% sometime.

Bill

[Plymouthy Adams]

I got the rear shocks for the 51 Plymouth through Autozone in Gabriel variety on an over nite for 32.00 tax included for the pair...

[YukonJack]

Not true at all. You are probably thinking of four wheel drive vehicles that have to have all four tyres/wheels the same size.

I've never even heard of air shocks for the front.

I didn't mean front air shocks, and I wasn't thinking about 4wheel drive. I meant I had read that if you use Gas Shocks you should use all four.

[Plymouthy Adams]

I think it is about the same with tires..the axle should be matched..the installation of the gas shock could increase your actual ride height over that of a common hydraulic shock.

[Plymouthy Adams]

here is the deal...Monroe's own web site complete with application back to the 30's...

Select online catalog; Shock selector: Passenger cars light truck: ..for our cars Deluxe/Sp deluxe and earlier cars use No model needed at the bottom of the list.....

http://www.monroe.com/support/tec_shockabsorbers.asp

Bingster..you probably will have to use the Dodge custom for you application as the DeSoto and Chrysler list does not include said mdel but as the three were the same from cowl to rear and suspension..application of shock should transfer to your application...

Edited May 13, 2009 by Tim Adams

[MacGyver]

I picked up new shocks from Napa last week. The front 2 are Monroe, the rear are the Napa branded shocks, which I think are actually produced by Monroe and re-labled by Napa. Anyway, the fronts were about $18 each and the rears about $23 each. Had to wait 1 day for them to be shipped to the Milwaukee store from Michigan at a cost $6. $90 total and 35minutes to install, not too shabby.

[adam_knox]

I picked up new shocks from Napa last week. The front 2 are Monroe, the rear are the Napa branded shocks, which I think are actually produced by Monroe and re-labled by Napa. Anyway, the fronts were about $18 each and the rears about $23 each. Had to wait 1 day for them to be shipped to the Milwaukee store from Michigan at a cost $6. $90 total and 35minutes to install, not too shabby.

Going to be doing my front shocks in about an hour. Any tricks or things to watch out for? I sure as heck won't be beating your Olympic record of 35 minutes. My "quick" projects usually take 2 hours. Mostly because I set done the wrench right next to me, and then spend the next half hour trying to figure out where I put my wrench!

[dirty dan]

I found a good link with Monroe information...

http://www.monroe.com/catalog/documents/08_MountingLengthSheet.pdf

[jimainnj]

I haven't purchased them yet, but what was posted for the shocks was;

Front Shocks = 5752 Monroe (gas)

Rear Shocks = MA727 Monroe (air)

I just installed the 5752 and MA727 Monroe on my 47 P15

fit fine Jim

[MacGyver]

Going to be doing my front shocks in about an hour. Any tricks or things to watch out for?

I didn't run into any snags whatsoever. It was a very straight forward job. Prior to actually attacking the job I hosed down all the bolts with PB Blaster, once a day for 3 days and let them soak. I'm sure that helped considerably, they were pretty ugly. Everything spun off nicely and nothing broke.

[BobT-47P15]

I used the NAPA shocks......most shocks today are gas filled, as opposed

to the old style hydraulic ones.

They seemed to improve the ride some after installation. I used the same

stock numbers that were mentioned earlier. NAPA was actually a little

cheaper than O'Reilly on them.

I'd suppose you would not want to use two hydraulics on one end and

two gas on the other....due to their different characteristics.

I think that was the point of the question earlier.

Were pretty simple to install - would have to be for me to do it.

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[P-12 Tommy]

:DI went to Auto Zone today and bought rear shocks for the P-12. They cross referenced the Monroe #31000 and came up with Gabriel #81147. Same shock. $36.02 for both out the door. Thought I'd tell you guys.

Tom