The Ford Barn

Pamodelaroadster · 03-04-2022, 06:28 PM

Another newbie question here. My model a is not ready for the road yet, I just bought it and discovered three of the four shocks aren’t even there. I know leaf spring suspensions have a lot of built in friction so I’m wondering how many people just leave the shocks off? Also what’s the best way/place to purchase them since I don’t have anything to rebuild? Thank you for any responses

Harpkatt · 03-04-2022, 07:25 PM

I can't answer for others, I have an RPU that has had no shocks since purchased and honestly you'd never really notice. My coupe does have shocks though.

alexiskai · 03-04-2022, 07:26 PM

Running without shocks is common for folks whose springs are also badly rusted. If/when you end up reconditioning the springs, you'll find shocks become necessary. New hydraulic shocks are available but expensive, and sometimes in short supply. Many folks go with tube shocks – not authentic, but cheap and they do the job.

Kurt in NJ · 03-04-2022, 07:43 PM

A lot of model A's have been driven without shocks if the springs are rusty and dry friction performs the shock function.
I drove without shocks for a couple of days when the springs were supple and lubricated, it was hard to control at 35-40, when i put the properly working shocks back on it was comfortable to drive over 60

VT Cruzan · 03-04-2022, 07:52 PM

My 1931 Coupe had one front shock only when I bought it 50 years ago and it was seized. I took it off and ran it that way until a year ago when I installed the tube shock kit from Snyders. It made for a more stable but much firmer ride. It's an easy installation.

old ugly · 03-04-2022, 08:01 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

i drove my model B tudor for 45 years without shocks

eagle · 03-04-2022, 08:05 PM

A lot of the original shocks are so wore out they dont do anything anyways.

ndnchf · 03-04-2022, 08:17 PM

My '31 CCPU only has them on the front. It rides fine.

Kevin in NJ · 03-04-2022, 08:21 PM

If you do not have shocks on your car and you can drive it over 25 MPH without it feeling like you are going off the road then your springs are really bad.

If you have good springs and no shocks then expect the car to just feel like it wants to leave the road over 25 MPH.

I see a lot of cars with no shocks. I also see the same cars with the front spring clearly wore out and/or rusty. Usually the front brake lever is verticle or leaning rearwards too. Usually these are the guys saying 45 is the top end of the car. Personally I feel 25 is the safe top speed from the few I have driven.

burner31 · 03-04-2022, 08:27 PM

[QUOTE=Pamodelaroadster;2110181] so I’m wondering how many people just leave the shocks off?...........A lot of people

Also what’s the best way/place to purchase them since I don’t have anything to rebuild? ..........See post #5

Synchro909 · 03-04-2022, 09:29 PM

My Phaeton had no shocks when I got it and it was all over the road when I hit a bump, crossed a railway line etc. I then put a pair of telescopic ones from a modern car on the back. Wow, what a difference. Later, I put a pair on the front as well. That hardly made any difference.
I'd say that a pair on the back will do about 80% of what a full set would do.

4bangerbob · 03-04-2022, 10:09 PM

Yes, drove my 28 for 15+ years, no shocks.

lrf · 03-04-2022, 11:36 PM

My Tudor had no shocks when purchased many years ago, she bounced from dips and body rolled when going around corners. I found and put 1934 Ford shocks on her and it solved the problem. Back in the day, shocks were cheap and easy to find at swap meets. Those were the good ole days!

Dodge · 03-05-2022, 02:55 AM

It works but much better with shocks. If your on a budget use the modern tube shocks.

Rember: The Model T has no shocks, the passengers are the shock absorbers.....

ronn · 03-05-2022, 05:56 AM

shocks tend to cost 1000-1500. fir a really good rebuilt set- not cheap.

If looking at a restored car for sale, one of the first things I check are the shocks. If they are missing, then I can guess the work done on the rest of the car.

nkaminar · 03-05-2022, 06:27 AM

Kits are available to put modern tube shocks on the Model A. If you don't care about authenticity then that would be a less expensive option. I have modern shocks on the back of my car and they cannot be seen without crawling under the car.

Chris in WNC · 03-05-2022, 07:10 AM

[QUOTE=burner31;2110218]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pamodelaroadster

so I’m wondering how many people just leave the shocks off?...........A lot of people

Also what’s the best way/place to purchase them since I don’t have anything to rebuild? ..........See post #5

John Holland in Ohio sells excellent rebuilds and has cores.
lower cost than new Stipe units.
look in the MARC roster for contact info.....

WHN · 03-05-2022, 08:21 AM

Henry would not have put shocks on the car if they were not needed. Especially the expensive ones he used.

Anyone who has driven or ridden in a Model A with good springs and shocks will really notice the difference.

If the car can’t be fixed properly, it should be left in the garage. In my opinion there are four things that first of all have to be correct.

Brakes!

Front end!

Springs!

Shocks!

Everything else is fluff!

Haze Gray and Underway. Enjoy.

rotorwrench · 03-05-2022, 08:41 AM

If you have worn out springs then you can get away with no shocks. Put some good springs on there and it will be bouncing all over the place.

Gene F · 03-05-2022, 08:54 AM

I agree with #9. And "Anyone who has driven or ridden in a Model A with good springs and shocks will really notice the difference."

I bought my shock tube kit from the late Rainmaker Ron. They are great. Before that I had good shocks off of a 1935 Ford.

Changing my front spring made a noticable difference too.

03-04-2022, 06:28 PM	#1
Pamodelaroadster Member Join Date: Feb 2022 Location: Mill Hall, PA Posts: 46	How common is it to just take the shocks off? Another newbie question here. My model a is not ready for the road yet, I just bought it and discovered three of the four shocks aren’t even there. I know leaf spring suspensions have a lot of built in friction so I’m wondering how many people just leave the shocks off? Also what’s the best way/place to purchase them since I don’t have anything to rebuild? Thank you for any responses

03-04-2022, 07:25 PM	#2
Harpkatt Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Long Island Posts: 172	Re: How common is it to just take the shocks off? I can't answer for others, I have an RPU that has had no shocks since purchased and honestly you'd never really notice. My coupe does have shocks though.

03-04-2022, 07:26 PM	#3
alexiskai Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Mebane NC Posts: 2,356	Re: How common is it to just take the shocks off? Running without shocks is common for folks whose springs are also badly rusted. If/when you end up reconditioning the springs, you'll find shocks become necessary. New hydraulic shocks are available but expensive, and sometimes in short supply. Many folks go with tube shocks – not authentic, but cheap and they do the job.

03-04-2022, 07:43 PM	#4
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,159	Re: How common is it to just take the shocks off? A lot of model A's have been driven without shocks if the springs are rusty and dry friction performs the shock function. I drove without shocks for a couple of days when the springs were supple and lubricated, it was hard to control at 35-40, when i put the properly working shocks back on it was comfortable to drive over 60

03-04-2022, 08:01 PM	#6
old ugly Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: alberta canada Posts: 585	Re: How common is it to just take the shocks off? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) i drove my model B tudor for 45 years without shocks __________________ old ugly my old father-in-law told me. "listen close when people tell you how to do stuff they may know something. then do it the way you want."

03-04-2022, 07:52 PM	#5
VT Cruzan Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Northeast Vermont Posts: 14	Re: How common is it to just take the shocks off? My 1931 Coupe had one front shock only when I bought it 50 years ago and it was seized. I took it off and ran it that way until a year ago when I installed the tube shock kit from Snyders. It made for a more stable but much firmer ride. It's an easy installation.

03-04-2022, 08:05 PM	#7
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,026	Re: How common is it to just take the shocks off? A lot of the original shocks are so wore out they dont do anything anyways. __________________ "There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."

03-04-2022, 08:17 PM	#8
ndnchf Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia Posts: 765	Re: How common is it to just take the shocks off? My '31 CCPU only has them on the front. It rides fine.

03-04-2022, 08:21 PM	#9
Kevin in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South East NJ Posts: 3,398	Re: How common is it to just take the shocks off? If you do not have shocks on your car and you can drive it over 25 MPH without it feeling like you are going off the road then your springs are really bad. If you have good springs and no shocks then expect the car to just feel like it wants to leave the road over 25 MPH. I see a lot of cars with no shocks. I also see the same cars with the front spring clearly wore out and/or rusty. Usually the front brake lever is verticle or leaning rearwards too. Usually these are the guys saying 45 is the top end of the car. Personally I feel 25 is the safe top speed from the few I have driven.

03-04-2022, 08:27 PM	#10
burner31 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Shawnee, Ok Posts: 3,471	Re: How common is it to just take the shocks off? [QUOTE=Pamodelaroadster;2110181] so I’m wondering how many people just leave the shocks off?...........A lot of people Also what’s the best way/place to purchase them since I don’t have anything to rebuild? ..........See post #5 __________________ Keith Shawnee OK '31 SW 160-B

03-04-2022, 09:29 PM	#11
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,497	Re: How common is it to just take the shocks off? My Phaeton had no shocks when I got it and it was all over the road when I hit a bump, crossed a railway line etc. I then put a pair of telescopic ones from a modern car on the back. Wow, what a difference. Later, I put a pair on the front as well. That hardly made any difference. I'd say that a pair on the back will do about 80% of what a full set would do.

03-04-2022, 10:09 PM	#12
4bangerbob Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Alberta Canada Posts: 36	Re: How common is it to just take the shocks off? Yes, drove my 28 for 15+ years, no shocks.

03-04-2022, 11:36 PM	#13
lrf Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: long beach ca Posts: 171	Re: How common is it to just take the shocks off? My Tudor had no shocks when purchased many years ago, she bounced from dips and body rolled when going around corners. I found and put 1934 Ford shocks on her and it solved the problem. Back in the day, shocks were cheap and easy to find at swap meets. Those were the good ole days!

03-05-2022, 02:55 AM	#14
Dodge Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Sonoma, CA. Posts: 1,498	Re: How common is it to just take the shocks off? It works but much better with shocks. If your on a budget use the modern tube shocks. Rember: The Model T has no shocks, the passengers are the shock absorbers.....

03-05-2022, 05:56 AM	#15
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 6,795	Re: How common is it to just take the shocks off? shocks tend to cost 1000-1500. fir a really good rebuilt set- not cheap. If looking at a restored car for sale, one of the first things I check are the shocks. If they are missing, then I can guess the work done on the rest of the car.

03-05-2022, 06:27 AM	#16
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,903	Re: How common is it to just take the shocks off? Kits are available to put modern tube shocks on the Model A. If you don't care about authenticity then that would be a less expensive option. I have modern shocks on the back of my car and they cannot be seen without crawling under the car. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

03-05-2022, 08:21 AM	#18
WHN Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Connecticut Shoreline Posts: 1,824	Re: How common is it to just take the shocks off? Henry would not have put shocks on the car if they were not needed. Especially the expensive ones he used. Anyone who has driven or ridden in a Model A with good springs and shocks will really notice the difference. If the car can’t be fixed properly, it should be left in the garage. In my opinion there are four things that first of all have to be correct. Brakes! Front end! Springs! Shocks! Everything else is fluff! Haze Gray and Underway. Enjoy.

03-05-2022, 08:41 AM	#19
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,440	Re: How common is it to just take the shocks off? If you have worn out springs then you can get away with no shocks. Put some good springs on there and it will be bouncing all over the place.

03-05-2022, 08:54 AM	#20
Gene F Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,975	Re: How common is it to just take the shocks off? I agree with #9. And "Anyone who has driven or ridden in a Model A with good springs and shocks will really notice the difference." I bought my shock tube kit from the late Rainmaker Ron. They are great. Before that I had good shocks off of a 1935 Ford. Changing my front spring made a noticable difference too.