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Old 08-09-2022, 12:08 AM   #1
Brentwood Bob
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: brentwood, ca
Posts: 4,420
Default Rebuilding the houdaille shocks

I have now rebuilt over 40 shocks over the last several months. Mostly, I followed David McCleery's approach(How to Restore Your Model A, vol. 2.) and Les Andrews Red Book, pg 1-256.
Takes about half a day to get one open, a full day to complete the usable cores.
With some steps spread over several days.
Keeping all the parts together for each shock takes extra effort.
I have found various fluids have been used, some recognizable, some still unknown to me.
The attached pictures will show the disassembled shock.
I use 85-140 gear oil, neoprene seals, lead, ss ball bearings, stem packing, and sealant to rebuild the usable cores.
There is a learning curve, and this is an ambitious job. Finding a matching set is problematic, mostly I built Houdaille, and National Acme, the 2 main manufacturers. There is some luck involved finishing up with matching sets, in my experience.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg shock 1.jpg (41.2 KB, 485 views)
File Type: jpg shock 6.jpg (36.6 KB, 413 views)
File Type: jpg shock 2.jpg (41.9 KB, 403 views)
File Type: jpg shock 3.jpg (42.8 KB, 443 views)
File Type: jpg shock 4.jpg (42.0 KB, 420 views)
File Type: jpg shock 5.jpg (39.1 KB, 405 views)

Last edited by Brentwood Bob; 08-12-2022 at 01:23 PM. Reason: Edited out hydraulic to read gear
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