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07-05-2021, 04:15 PM | #1 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Rochester WA
Posts: 34
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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 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Connecticut Shoreline
Posts: 1,839
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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. |
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07-05-2021, 04:29 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Germany, near Aachen
Posts: 1,162
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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 ".
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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 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 645
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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 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Norfolk UK
Posts: 214
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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, 09:29 AM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 3,511
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Re: Shocks and springs
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Bob Bidonde Last edited by Bob Bidonde; 07-07-2021 at 09:34 AM. |
07-07-2021, 12:07 PM | #7 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Germany, near Aachen
Posts: 1,162
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Re: Shocks and springs
Quote:
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.
__________________
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 |
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07-07-2021, 12:29 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: on the Littlefield
Posts: 6,175
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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
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07-07-2021, 02:54 PM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: South East NJ
Posts: 3,398
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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. |
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