Jump to content

Front Shocks for my '54 Suburban


Faulkner
Go to solution Solved by Sniper,

Recommended Posts

For 17 bucks apiece, I can get Gabriel shocks (P/N 81469) for the rear of my Suburban.  But Gabriel does not offer front shocks; Monroe offers neither front, nor rear.  Mother MoPar's P/N for the front is 1450 629.

 

For ~55 bucks apiece, I can get front shocks from Bernbaum, Roberts and the like.  Before I go that route:  Has anyone found an acceptable substitute, that's more on the order of 17 bucks?

 

-Dan

Edited by Faulkner
update with Chrysler P/N
Link to comment
Share on other sites

When I was looking for a similar solution for my 51 Cambridge I measured the collapsed and extended eye to eye distance of my stock shocks.  I came up with these int he link below.  I do have to drill out the bushing to fit the 1/16" stud on my Cambridge though.

 

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/chevrolet,1960,c10+pickup,4.6l+283cid+v8,1489473,suspension,shock+absorber,7556

 

Now I don't know if they will fit your Suburban though, but a tape measure will tell you.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I tried on my Hollander to trace it and find the part #s.  None exist. But I got a part number from some idiot on Ebay trying to sell a pair for $209.  He exposed the part # for magnification.  Maybe try this from Amazon. If not the right part you can send it back.

Shock 4.jpg

Shock 3.jpg

Shock Absorber  1.jpg

Shock 2.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

21 minutes ago, Sniper said:

Those Monroe 5752's will not fit my 51, extended length is about .75" too short.

Sorry, if the Ebay ad is right they should fit his 54 Plaza.  Maybe you can find an Ebay guy dumb enough to show the part #.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If the Ebay ad is right..... think about that, lol.

 

Went to Monroe's site.  It matches my recollection that the 5752 specs are pre 1951 with a shorter collapsed and extended length than the 51 and up shocks.  Now my measurements were taken off the factory shocks on my 51. 

 

A shorter collapsed length isn't an issue, a taller one though risks damaging the shock if it bottoms out on the shock and not the bump stops.

 

A shorter extended length (the issue here) risks having the shock be the stop in full extension rather than the bump stops.  Now if you don't catch air it's probably not an issue, but it is something to be aware of.

 

Now the Monroe 37187 is a bit less collapsed length than my measurements ( this is ok) and about .75" more extended length than my measurements, which is also ok.  However, the ID of the shock mount bushings are 5/8", with the sleeve removed, and it needs to be 11/16", but if you read the specs on the 5752 it also has 5/8" bushing id.

 

5752 specs from Monroe

 

https://drivcat.com/overlays/part-detail.aspx?brandId=MS&pNum=5752&partType=Shock Absorber

 

Edited by Sniper
added link
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That eBay ad shows the part number as 5752ST.  FWIW, Summit identifies it as the same part as 5752.  So eBay says it fits, but Amazon says it doesn't.  My suspicion is that Amazon is correct, with Sniper's info corroborating.  Rock Auto does not indicate that a 5752 is the correct P/N either; in fact, they have no part available for the front shock.

Capture.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Newbie alert:  I've never replaced shocks.  But I need help understanding something...

 

It appears that the 37187 comes with a bolt that fits the ID of the sleeve.  So why does the ID of the sleeve - or, bushing - matter?  Isn't it the dimension of (both ends of) the bolt that matters, where I presume it fits into the frame of the car?  Oh wait...  Is it because you need two bolts?

 

 

Untitled.png

Edited by Faulkner
I'm missing something...
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, even the Amazon site says it doesn't fit a 1954 Plymouth Plaza..but they are not always right.  Good thing with them they always take it back for return. Just trying to be helpful.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Because that stud does NOT fit our rides.  37187 wasn't specifically designed to work in my application so I have to make it work.  The only thing in that mounting kit that fits is the nut.  The rubber bushings can be forced on with a lot of effort and some soapy water.  Or you can run an 11/16" drill but thru them and make them fit easier.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, Bryan said:

Yeah, even the Amazon site says it doesn't fit a 1954 Plymouth Plaza..but they are not always right.  Good thing with them they always take it back for return. Just trying to be helpful.  

...and I appreciate the help, Bryan!  When it's up on the lift, though, I don't want to deal with returns (or, modifications), so unless I can be convinced something will fit beforehand, I'll probably end up going with Andy Bernbaum (i.e., Chris Paquin).  Twenty bucks more per shock, but I'm playing it safe.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, Sniper said:

Because that stud does NOT fit our rides.  37187 wasn't specifically designed to work in my application so I have to make it work.  The only thing in that mounting kit that fits is the nut.  The rubber bushings can be forced on with a lot of effort and some soapy water.  Or you can run an 11/16" drill but thru them and make them fit easier.

Did you use 37187, then?  Drilling rubber is easy - so, you recycled your old sleeves after you reamed the rubber bushings, along with the hardware?  And the rubber bushing length matched that of the old, so there was no play (or tightness)?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 minutes ago, Faulkner said:

Did you use 37187, then?  Drilling rubber is easy - so, you recycled your old sleeves after you reamed the rubber bushings, along with the hardware?  And the rubber bushing length matched that of the old, so there was no play (or tightness)?

There are no sleeves in the original shock, you will need to reuse your original washers, at least the inner one anyway.  New inner ones are available from Mopar, at about $15 each, used to be under a dollar not so long ago.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK, just one more question, then:

 

1 hour ago, Sniper said:

 The rubber bushings can be forced on with a lot of effort and some soapy water.  Or you can run an 11/16" drill but thru them and make them fit easier.

 

This pertains to both ends, correct?  Both bushings on each shock should be reamed to 11/16"?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I went through the detective work with truck shock absorbers awhile back because of the lack of options available, and those all had the ridiculously exorbitant prices.  I used dimensions for collapsed and extended lengths + mounting conditions to find the truck shocks I was looking for in manufacturers' online resources, which were not listed as applications on several manufacturers' websites.  I was also able to determine what are acceptable options as there are different sizes of shock absorbers that can fit in a range of suspensions articulations; in other words, a shock that fits the suspension does not have to be perfectly matched to articulation as the extreme conditions are rarely seen in operation as mentioned.  My experience working with OEMs is that someone with little knowledge of the subject matter is tasked with digitizing records for low volume products and they make errors and omissions that no one catches, so there are gaps in product applications.

 

additional information - shock absorber replacement

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

Terms of Use