Shocks

[Floats]

Hi Guys,
I have a 28 Roadster Pickup with bad shocks and a 29 Chevy Phaeton without shocks, which I believe was quite common on the Chevy NOT to have shocks.
Is it worth the trouble to repair the old shocks or replace them with repro friction ones or even modern tube shocks. My cars are both daily drivers but I would like to attempt a tour around South Africa once I retire.
Your opinions and advise will be appreciated.
Regards
Chris
Cape Town

[Rowdy]

Unless you are buying a set of repop shocks from Bill Stipe stay away from repops, they are junk. Rebuilding yours is recomended. Worst problem is many originals are worn to the point of not being rebuildable. Experts say only about 1 in 8 is worth rebuilding. I have had slightly better luck so far, but have only rebuilt 3 sets to date and have 2 more sets to go. Rod

[imacrazy]

Where can I find information on rebuilding shocks? I do
Appreciate the Barn and all of you Guys, Something I read every day.

Thanks, Bill

[Kurt in NJ]

Originally Posted by imacrazy

Where can I find information on rebuilding shocks? I do
Appreciate the Barn and all of you Guys, Something I read every day.

Thanks, Bill

The Ford service bulletins have a several page section on rebuilding and testing shocks

[wrndln]

imacrazy,
Do a search for "Robert Paul" here on Fordbarn and you will get hits about him. He rebuilds shocks and does an excellent job, but is real slow. John Holland in Ohio also rebuilds shocks.
Rusty Nelson

[Purdy Swoft]

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I really like the friction shocks that I use but it seems that the market has dried up on them. The prices had gone sorta crazy on the friction shocks at the last time that I saw them advertised in sets. Maybe sombody will start offering them again at a reasonable price.

[darrylkmc]

Floats,

Try these guys, I have no personal experience with them, but they do GM and Houdaille, as well as other makes:

Apple Hydraulics, Inc.

http://www.applehydraulics.com/index.htm

I have a set of old GM style on my Phaeton.

Darryl in Fairbanks

[jkeesey]

Originally Posted by darrylkmc

Floats,

Try these guys, I have no personal experience with them, but they do GM and Houdaille, as well as other makes:

Apple Hydraulics, Inc.

http://www.applehydraulics.com/index.htm

I have a set of old GM style on my Phaeton.

Darryl in Fairbanks

I have used this guys before, not on A shocks, but good results on everything else.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Friction shocks are WAAAAAY better than NO shocks! Prices have probably gone WAY up, as they're an old era FAD!
I think they look great on fenderless cars, like a BLAST from the past, everyone LAFFS, when they sometimes SQUEEK or CREAK, sorta like those woodies that make beautiful sounds, going out of a KROOKEDY driveway!
Bill W.

[Purdy Swoft]

Never heard mine SQUEEK or CREEK. They are 50/50 adjustable for fimness vs 60/40 like original and theres no oil to leak . I always liked the look !!! The first set that I got from J.C. Whitney in the 70s were sold in pairs for $29.95 per pair, less the links. The complete sets that were sold recently were nearly $500.00 for four shocks and dog bone links. A person could get rebuilt original shocks for less if they had cores.

[Synchro909]

I figure that if your car is a daily driver, you want the safest, most durable shocks you can get. Originality is probably not a big consideration either so go with the telescopic (tube) shocks.
I have them on my cars and they both behave way better on the road than the originals and as well as the design of the rest of the suspension and steering system will allow.

[Roadster62]

Originally Posted by Purdy Swoft

Never heard mine SQUEEK or CREEK. They are 50/50 adjustable for fimness vs 60/40 like original and theres no oil to leak . I always liked the look !!! The first set that I got from J.C. Whitney in the 70s were sold in pairs for $29.95 per pair, less the links. The complete sets that were sold recently were nearly $500.00 for four shocks and dog bone links. A person could get rebuilt original shocks for less if they had cores.

Are these friction shocks the same style you would see on a 1920'-1930's dirt track race car? Sure would like to see a photo of them on an A. Bob

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by Roadster62

Are these friction shocks the same style you would see on a 1920'-1930's dirt track race car? Sure would like to see a photo of them on an A. Bob

They bolt on just like the original knee action shocks. Purdy Swoft has them on his cars, maybe he has a picture.

[Purdy Swoft]

This isn't the best pics but the best that I have at this time. This shows the front and rear shocks on one of my model A strip downs.

[Purdy Swoft]

Here is different views that I just found.




The front shocks had shorter straight arms. Here is a view of a front shock that I bent the arm on so that I could use it on the rear of my speedster. I latch on to these shocks where ever I can find them at a good price. Sometimes I only find fronts but can modify them to work on the rear.

[Mike V. Florida]

Anything is better then nothing. Bill Stipe's are better then rebuilt. Rebuilt units should be purchased from someone with experience, do a search here for names of successful rebuilders.

If nothing else go for tube shocks, but be careful! There are shocks that will fit but they would be too stiff. Again do a search here for ones that have worked.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

I'd be QUICK to trade a LARGE, COLORED, FRAMED pic of my Dog, for a set of those!!
Bill W.

[Purdy Swoft]

I bet you would.

[Purdy Swoft]

Friction shocks are a hell of a lot better than nothing. I bought a set of the new reproduction hydraulic shocks that were available in the 90s and installed them on our coupe. The repro shocks leaked and in my opinion don't work as good as the friction shocks. There were accessory friction shocks available for Model A's back in the day and I consider them period correct. No doubt, the Bill Stipe shocks may be the best shocks that have ever been made for the model A but cost way more than I am willing to pay. It looks like the available choices at this time are the Stipe shocks, rebuilt originals or new tube shocks. Who knows what may show up on eBay or at some swap meets.

[Purdy Swoft]

Bill, Here is a pic of my sweetness, Peppermint Patti . You can copy it and frame it if you like. You won't even have to trade anything for it. She is a real jewel. She knows how to set the timing and how to set up the brakes!!!!!!! smiley face
Yer brother, Purdy.