Shock sanity check

[1939mars]

I have a front '36 shock that is supposed to be good. In the middle of travel you can only budge it with great force (by that I mean held in place on a 2x4 with a significant amount of my weight on it). It turns with lower force by hand near the ends of travel. The pointer does not seem to change the feel. This amount of force needed in the middle of travel is not normal, correct?
My experience is that they should be pretty hard to turn, but that they can be turned by hand and should be basically the same throughout their travel. Am I wrong?
Thanks,
Scott

[Kurt in NJ]

It should take more effort in the rebound direction and it should be consistent throughout the travel.
The original 36 shocks I know do not have adjustable pointer— perhaps post a picture

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by Kurt in NJ

It should take more effort in the rebound direction and it should be consistent throughout the travel.
The original 36 shocks I know do not have adjustable pointer— perhaps post a picture

I believe this to be incorrect. Should be consistent throughout in both directions.

[Kurt in NJ]

60-40,check balls allowing bypass of fluid without going through metering valve.
the shock has to allow easier compression of the springs while controlling rebound more firmly.
The original 36 shocks don’t come apart easy with the crimped on covers and in the wingshaft there’s a thermostatic control valve that has no external adjustment later years such complications were abandoned and the external adjustment returned and they were made rebuild able with a factory built cartridge.
Most shocks can not be rebuilt to original specifications economically,the clearance in an earlier shock is between.001-.002 when new.

[ford38v8]

Well shucks, Kurt. Sounds like you forgot more about shocks than I ever knew.

[Kurt in NJ]

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I was studying the Houdaille service bulletins that I printed out many years ago and the 1940 version might feel the same in each direction pushing by hand but there is a spring loaded valve to bypass the metering valve in the compression mode.
The 1940 type was listed as replacement for the original 36 type for the fronts.
For my car I will be using the later style on the front— NOS and also found them for the rear,more worried about functionality to original standards to have good riding.

[Terry,OH]

Appears to be a problem with the shock. usually even resistance across travel. May be rebuildable