The Ford Barn

1965 Mustang · 07-05-2021, 04:15 PM

I have a 29 leatherback. It is a good driver, but the ride seems pretty harsh.
The springs look ok, but when I jump up and down on the front or rear bumpers there seems to be very little movement. (I weigh about 260 pounds)
I suspect something is not right, perhaps the shock arms are frozen or nearly so. Any suggestions? I guess I could disconnect the shocks and see what happens. Thanks

WHN · 07-05-2021, 04:29 PM

Car should move up and down, bounce.

Any car that I am planning on being driven. I replace the springs, take shocks off and completely inspect. The should move freely.

Driving down the road your car body should be lightly moving around. Absorbing the little bumps. Not pounding or jarring jerking.

Model A’s with a correctly sorted out chassis and front end, will ride quite nicely.

Werner · 07-05-2021, 04:29 PM

Mustang,

very often the old shock absorbers are rusted together inside. Right, if you loosen the shock absorber connectors on one ball/pan side, you will see the spring deflection. That should be up / down about +/- 6 ".

jb-ob · 07-05-2021, 04:39 PM

65,

You need to manage your expectations better. Ask when all the roads in your area where paved ? The Model A was designed as an early 'off road' vehicle, not like a smooth riding Lexus.

Rebuilding your shocks, springs and a set of new tires will be the best you can do with a stock Model A.

They are great fun but with limitations based on the world they where designed to operate in.

Enjoy

Hotrodfil · 07-06-2021, 03:37 AM

Testing some new shocks for a local company.
They work very well so far. Should have at least 800 miles on them over the next week. Hopefully at least ten of them on Pendine Sands... The squeaking in the video is mainly the hood catches!

https://youtu.be/sTM1OOVjAyM

Bob Bidonde · 07-07-2021, 09:29 AM

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Leaf springs need occasional lubrication. Ford offered an accessory set of spring covers that have felt oil reservoirs in them. The oil leaches out and keeps the springs working efficiently. Reproduction spring covers are available and they make a substantial difference in ride quality.

Werner · 07-07-2021, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Leaf springs need occasional lubrication.

It's good that someone writes that leaf springs need to be lubricated! I have had many fruitless discussions with drivers who drove completely rusted springs and said this was because of "better damping" and that greased spring leaves penetrate dirt and wear them out as a result.

That's not wise.

Kurt in NJ · 07-07-2021, 12:29 PM

Spray the springs with automatic transmission oil, go for a drive and oil them again, spray way up in the frame, oil the lubricant hole in the hand crank bearing---oil again in a week, it makes a mess but you will find out how good your shocks are

Kevin in NJ · 07-07-2021, 02:54 PM

Disconnect the shocks. See if the levers move.

Drive the car with the shocks disconnected.

If you can get above 20-25 MPH and the car does not feel like it is uncontrollable then the springs are dead. By dead they may just need lubrication or they could be just wore out. If they are wore out the shackles will be pushed out and the front a bit low.

Also the fronts are the ones that are more likely to dead in a bad way where they need replacing.

If you fix the springs in the front and do not have working shocks then you will have a car unsafe to drive about 25ish MPH.

Yes, I have experienced cars with dead springs and repaired springs. There is a huge difference in how the car drives. Once you get propery functioning shocks on the car then 60 MPH (assuming all else good) is comfortable to drive.

07-05-2021, 04:15 PM	#1
1965 Mustang Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Rochester WA Posts: 34	Shocks and springs I have a 29 leatherback. It is a good driver, but the ride seems pretty harsh. The springs look ok, but when I jump up and down on the front or rear bumpers there seems to be very little movement. (I weigh about 260 pounds) I suspect something is not right, perhaps the shock arms are frozen or nearly so. Any suggestions? I guess I could disconnect the shocks and see what happens. Thanks

07-05-2021, 04:29 PM	#2
WHN Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Connecticut Shoreline Posts: 1,819	Re: Shocks and springs Car should move up and down, bounce. Any car that I am planning on being driven. I replace the springs, take shocks off and completely inspect. The should move freely. Driving down the road your car body should be lightly moving around. Absorbing the little bumps. Not pounding or jarring jerking. Model A’s with a correctly sorted out chassis and front end, will ride quite nicely.

07-05-2021, 04:29 PM	#3
Werner Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Germany, near Aachen Posts: 1,153	Re: Shocks and springs Mustang, very often the old shock absorbers are rusted together inside. Right, if you loosen the shock absorber connectors on one ball/pan side, you will see the spring deflection. That should be up / down about +/- 6 ". __________________ Beste Gruesse aus Deutschland, Werner Ford Model A, Roadster, 1928 Citroen 11 CV, 1947 Hercules W 2000, 1976; (with NSU-Wankel Rotary Engine), Canadian version

07-05-2021, 04:39 PM	#4
jb-ob Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 638	Re: Shocks and springs 65, You need to manage your expectations better. Ask when all the roads in your area where paved ? The Model A was designed as an early 'off road' vehicle, not like a smooth riding Lexus. Rebuilding your shocks, springs and a set of new tires will be the best you can do with a stock Model A. They are great fun but with limitations based on the world they where designed to operate in. Enjoy

07-06-2021, 03:37 AM	#5
Hotrodfil Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Norfolk UK Posts: 213	Re: Shocks and springs Testing some new shocks for a local company. They work very well so far. Should have at least 800 miles on them over the next week. Hopefully at least ten of them on Pendine Sands... The squeaking in the video is mainly the hood catches! https://youtu.be/sTM1OOVjAyM

07-07-2021, 12:29 PM	#8
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,156	Re: Shocks and springs Spray the springs with automatic transmission oil, go for a drive and oil them again, spray way up in the frame, oil the lubricant hole in the hand crank bearing---oil again in a week, it makes a mess but you will find out how good your shocks are

07-07-2021, 02:54 PM	#9
Kevin in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South East NJ Posts: 3,398	Re: Shocks and springs Disconnect the shocks. See if the levers move. Drive the car with the shocks disconnected. If you can get above 20-25 MPH and the car does not feel like it is uncontrollable then the springs are dead. By dead they may just need lubrication or they could be just wore out. If they are wore out the shackles will be pushed out and the front a bit low. Also the fronts are the ones that are more likely to dead in a bad way where they need replacing. If you fix the springs in the front and do not have working shocks then you will have a car unsafe to drive about 25ish MPH. Yes, I have experienced cars with dead springs and repaired springs. There is a huge difference in how the car drives. Once you get propery functioning shocks on the car then 60 MPH (assuming all else good) is comfortable to drive.