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Old 05-03-2019, 10:44 PM   #1
Neil Mylar LakewoodCA
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Default What to look for to determine if a shock is rebuildable.

This is what I was taught and is what I look for at swap meets:

1. If shaft is off center, shock is not rebuildable.
2. Remove filler plug and turn shock upside down. If rust comes out, shock is not rebuildable.
3. If shaft is frozen, shock is questionable and will probably require heat.

Hope this helps.
Neil
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Old 05-04-2019, 12:29 AM   #2
redmodelt
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Default Re: What to look for to determine if a shock is rebuildable.

how about if the shaft is straight but the hole around it is well worn.
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Old 05-04-2019, 07:36 AM   #3
jwmckenzie
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Default Re: What to look for to determine if a shock is rebuildable.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Neil Mylar LakewoodCA View Post
This is what I was taught and is what I look for at swap meets:

1. If shaft is off center, shock is not rebuildable.
2. Remove filler plug and turn shock upside down. If rust comes out, shock is not rebuildable.
3. If shaft is frozen, shock is questionable and will probably require heat.

Hope this helps.
Neil
I would think it would be pretty hard to find shocks that meet all three of these requirements. Great if you can find them.

I have taken probably 30 shocks apart. Here is what I have found:

0. If the shaft is off center it won't rebuild, and you can't get the cover off.
1. If the shock is dry (no oil) and turns, it won't re-build.
2. All I have taken apart required heat
3. You may be able to harvest parts from an otherwise ruined shock, so take it apart.
4. Less than half the ones you get apart will be re-buildable and they won't work like new.
5. It is rewarding to make an old rusty one work.

Note: Re-Buildable to me is: glass beaded, check valves seats cleaned, new check balls, and new seals.

Jon.
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Old 05-04-2019, 10:08 AM   #4
Neil Mylar LakewoodCA
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Default Re: What to look for to determine if a shock is rebuildable.

redmodelt,
Good point.
Not rebuildable.
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Old 05-04-2019, 10:53 AM   #5
Ed in Maine
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Default Re: What to look for to determine if a shock is rebuildable.

Shocks are terribly expensive but you should have them. I don't think it is practical after all this time to find (4) that are rebuildable. Over the years, I accumulated many and took them to a rebuilder only to find that I wasted my money. I finally held my breath and purchased a set from Stipe Machine. They look wonderful and they perform even better. If you want something that looks close to original, I don't think there are many other choices. Ed
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Old 05-04-2019, 06:41 PM   #6
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Default Re: What to look for to determine if a shock is rebuildable.

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Just a funny recollection... at the old family house in Detroit there are two peculiar holes drilled in the concrete driveway that correspond to the mounting holes on a Model A shock.
That "hold down" never moved even with a big hex box wrench and a 6 ft pipe handle. No heat needed!
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Old 05-04-2019, 10:30 PM   #7
Mike V. Florida
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Default Re: What to look for to determine if a shock is rebuildable.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Neil Mylar LakewoodCA View Post
This is what I was taught and is what I look for at swap meets:

1. If shaft is off center, shock is not rebuildable.
2. Remove filler plug and turn shock upside down. If rust comes out, shock is not rebuildable.
3. If shaft is frozen, shock is questionable and will probably require heat.

Hope this helps.
Neil

All shocks are questionable, I would pick a frozen shock over one that turn loose because a loose one is most likely too worn to keep a seal and the frozen one may have tight clearances that are rusted together. Requiring heat is not a bad thing and I would not discard the core because of it.


Just my opinion.
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Old 05-04-2019, 10:45 PM   #8
Railcarmover
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Default Re: What to look for to determine if a shock is rebuildable.

Houdaille shock absorbers are suspect,they leak by nature,and hold moisture by design.The Model A traverse spring suspension is difficult to dampen,unlike a conventional hotchkiss drive the traverse works in a arc,which is why tube shocks dont really work with a Model A.Nope,for a driver give me those cheapie knock off offenhauser frictions,cheap,easy to maintain and they dampen the initial shock well.
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Old 05-05-2019, 12:36 AM   #9
Tom Wesenberg
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Default Re: What to look for to determine if a shock is rebuildable.

I had a tight shock, but once I heated it and got it apart, then removed all the rust, it was totally worn out. It will make a good display item.
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Old 05-05-2019, 07:43 AM   #10
Greg Jones
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Default Re: What to look for to determine if a shock is rebuildable.

I agree with Post #5, if you want reliable shocks pay the piper and buy the Stipe shocks. I went through the "rebuilding" process with a couple of the known and preferred shock rebuilders and the "rebuilt" shocks went dead quickly. I will say that I have a set of friction shocks that I put on temporarily that I found worked surprisingly well. However, you just can't beat the Stipe shocks....
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