Shock absorbers

[Tom Skinner]

I just installed new shackle bushings, silencers and Atlas shocks on the rear of my 1948 Chrysler Royal. It was no cake walk. 16 hours work what with cleaning studs, nuts, washers,shackles etc., on a wire wheel. The one thing I noticed about the new Atlas shocks was they were about 3/4" shorter extended then the ones I took off. The ones I took off were shot pushed together with very little resistance, came back slower than molasses in January.

I guess I need front shocks now - it stands to reason if the rears were shot so are the fronts. My question is should I risk buying front ones that don't match lengthwise? Maybe the old rear ones were stretched from just wear and tear? There is a guy on ebay selling a pair of fronts for $65/pr. The Atlas guy sells his at $88/pr. I wonder if there is any difference???

Tom

Huntersville, NC

PS. She rides alot quieter and smoother over bumps in the road, and sits up about 3/4" to an inch in the back as well.

[Rusty O'Toole]

Stock shock absorbers pooh out after 20000 to 25000 miles. They may look ok and seem ok, not leaking or broken, but put on a new set of shocks and you get back that "new car" ride.

I don't know why age would hurt a shock absorber. If it is stored indoors and not rusty.

PS I have been told, you can restore the "new car" ride just by putting new rubber bushings in the ends of the shocks but have not tried this. But I have put new shocks on and was pleased with the improved ride, even with cheap "no name" shocks. Mind you this was 25 years ago before we began getting all the cheap rubbish parts from China.

I would say, any "name brand" should be good, like Gabriel or Monroe, but Koni or KYB would be a premium brand.

As far as not extending the shock all the way. Practically every car I ever worked on or jacked up, the suspension hung from the shocks when fully extended. You have to be aware of this when doing suspension work. Without the shock in place the wheels and axles can nearly fall off the car, you need to support the wheel when changing shocks.

I do agree that you do not want the shock fully collapsed when the suspension bottoms.