How smooth does your Model A ride?

[Conaway2]

I’m restoring my 4th Model A in 55 years, and in each one prior to the present one, I’ve disassembled, cleaned and lubed the front and rear springs - also replaced and re-bushed shackles. Cleaning includes grinding the ridges off of each leaf and chamfering the ends. Working springs make a significant different in the ride; installing original working shocks is the icing on the cake.

A Model A can ride quite well if the suspension is working as it was designed to do.

Jim

[jeepguy1948]

My own personal experience is that the typical Model A does not need shocks, the reason they don’t need shocks is because the springs are rusted solid. As suggested above, cleaning up the old springs is the correct thing to do and doesn’t cost much. There are strips of teflon-ish (plastic) mare tail that is made to go between the leaves. The material comes in a roll which you can cut to length very easily. The strips are available in different widths to accomodate different spring widths, you just order what you need. Before anybody gets all excited, I’m not saying that this is the only solution, it’s not I just thought I would mention it. I have personally used it and was happy with the results. What is very, very important is to know that those Model A springs can KILL you, there is a tremendous amount of energy in there and if you just unscrew the spring bolt in the middle…. Bad, very bad, can kill you bad. I’m not going to get into it here, there is plenty of information available on the topic, just make sure you study up on it.

[AzBob]

Rem

[AzBob]

Rem

[AzBob]

rem

[JoeCB]

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The OP, Banditorama... look at the video posted by Cavalierhome , " Our first long trip - video". Good video, how an apparently well restored original Model A should drive.
Joe B