Late 31 with no rear shocks
 

So my late 31 Tudor is missing both rear shocks, arms, everything...there's nothing there.

What do I need to find/buy to go back to factory original? Did the late 31 setup or design differ to earlier ones? How many $ am I looking at? Thanks.

Re: Late 31 with no rear shocks
 

Not original, but good (and cheap).

Re: Late 31 with no rear shocks
 

Stipe shocks are expensive but they are well made. Tube shocks could be an alternative if your on a budget and like to drive the car a lot. Finding OEM units that can be overhauled is getting harder every year. There are several folks that do this service. It takes some heavy duty tooling to get a rusty one apart and many times the internals are shot.

Re: Late 31 with no rear shocks
 

My truck originally did not have any shocks, but when I inherited it I also inherited a box of shocks. Sent them to John Holland, took 8 shocks to get 4 good ones. Suitable shocks for repair/rebuilding are getting very hard to find.

Re: Late 31 with no rear shocks
 

Many many Mod A s are without shocks because they cost so much! You have basically three choices;
1) Pay the price for new ones at about $250. each. Four wheels, $1000.
2) Get an adapter kit and install modern tube shocks for around $350.
3) Find a set of FrictionShocks ($ ?) Try Speedway. I think they sell them.
Terry

Re: Late 31 with no rear shocks
 

If you want originals correct for '31 I believe the only difference is the hex head style adjusting valve, earlier had a square head and early '28 had a pointer style. Some of the patent numbers may have also changed but I'm not sure. Functionally, all of the shocks will interchange.


FWIW, my grandfather put on a set of "rebuilt" shocks that I later found were junk that got passed off as rebuilt. I took them off and noticed no difference in the ride, my springs have enough rust in the leaves to be self-damped, rides nice :D

Re: Late 31 with no rear shocks
 

or fabricate the adaptor kit yourself and buy the shocks... 60 euros!

Re: Late 31 with no rear shocks
 

I have Ken Davis tube shocks on my pickup. Reasonably priced and work great.

Re: Late 31 with no rear shocks
 

Answer....big bank account

Re: Late 31 with no rear shocks
 

Thanks guys.

Ken's shock kit for rear only is $180.00 including shipping.

I know the two Stipe shocks will be $500 BUT tell me what else I need and where to buy it AND are these parts exactly correct for a late 31 if we're talking new parts from the suppliers. Are original late 31 parts hard to find?

Re: Late 31 with no rear shocks
 

You'll need the arms and links. Brattons sells the last style rear shock arm and I believe A&L makes the shock links so I'm sure they are high quality. I don't think they changed at all except for early in 1928. Original parts probably aren't all that hard to find as long as you have the standards to figure out what is late '31.

Re: Late 31 with no rear shocks
 

Check the judging guide for shock info. E-v 8 shocks are of different design and mounting

Re: Late 31 with no rear shocks
 

M2M
There are several unique features of some 1931 shocks by manufacturer. You really need to read the Restoration Guidelines and Judging Standards Area 23: Shocks and Shackles.
A lot of work and research went into the Area. It will answer all of your questions.
There are really no "Late 31" only shocks, arms or links.
I assume that the shock balls are still on your rear axle.

Re: Late 31 with no rear shocks
 

Thanks. Here are the arms Bratton's have:
https://www.brattons.com/rear-shock-arm.html

All up, I guess I'm looking at around $650 for two rear shocks, arms, links, etc.

To Ken Davis or not to Ken Davis, that is the question...

Re: Late 31 with no rear shocks
 

That looks like a simple and effective fix.

Re: Late 31 with no rear shocks
 

Have you tested that your front shocks even work properly?

I was taught with a regular arm on it the shock should take a lot of effort to move the full range and less in the other direction.

A few years ago I was given enough details to make something close to the KRW tester. It was supposed to take like 15 seconds for the weight to fall a certain number of degrees. Well the shocks I thought were good only took a few seconds to fall.

Kind of sent me back to the drawing board.

If you have good springs on the car then it should not be drivable over 30 MPH without shocks. The car will feel it is about to fly off the road, really uncomfortable. This was after tearing down a decent used set of springs and lubing them. This was based on my experiences with a couple of cars.

As soon as I put a set of my old definition of working shocks on the front of my 30 fordor the car would run 60 comfortably.

It is rare that I see what I consider good front springs at my local shows. They are usually showing rust and all sitting too low. Then again all these people think 45 is the top speed of their cars too.

Re: Late 31 with no rear shocks
 

Call John Holland at 330-483-3896 if you are still looking for originals. He is an excellent Model A Shock re-builder. His prices are very reasonable. Perhaps he has some late 31 shocks he could sell you. He rebuilt my A shocks about 9 years ago. They continue to be on my coupe without any issues.

Re: Late 31 with no rear shocks
 

No, I haven't got as far as the front shocks. Both the springs are not lubed so the car is not bouncy even at 50mph despite no rear shocks but the hide is harsh.

Re: Late 31 with no rear shocks
 

Okay, thanks.

Re: Late 31 with no rear shocks
 

I've found the telescopic shocks to be too stiff. They give a hard ride.