Rear Shocks for a Pickup Truck

[Richard Lorenz]

I have a pickup truck that will never be used to carry a load. In order to reduce the bouncing of the rear end and get better tire-to-road contact, I believe that using a thinner shock oil will accomplish this.

Has anyone tried doing something like this? Thanks in advance.

[ursus]

That bouncing of a pickup with no load is normal since there is less weight on the rear axle than would be the case with a car and the pickup usually has a 12 leaf rear spring. Some fellows that don't plan to use a pickup for loads will pull the 7th, 9th or both leaves to make the 10 leaf spring that would reside under a coupe or tudor sedan. I have never heard of trying different viscosities of shock oil, but that could be a whole new area of debate for the lubrication experts on Fordbarn.

[Tacoma Bob]

mmmm I believe the service bulletins address differing viscosities for summer and winter driving conditions.

[woofa.express]

interesting. I had two springs removed from the rear suspension of my pickup. then removed the only partly functioning original shocks and replaced with post manufacture modern shocks. well it still rides rough. it will quieten down with a load in the back but that is infrequent. and they are only small loads. I did read in this forum about a bloke who carried a keg of beer and that gave him a better ride. I guess it rode rough again when he had fully consumed the precious cargo.
now back to mine. I think I will even remove the shockers. it is infrequent I drive on a gravel road so I don't think I will miss them.

[ursus]

Originally Posted by Tacoma Bob

mmmm I believe the service bulletins address differing viscosities for summer and winter driving conditions.

We are talking shock absorber fluid here and there is a Service Bulletin reference about diluting the glycerin with alcohol for subzero temperatures, However, Ford ceased using glycerin as a shock fluid near the end of the Model A production run.

I guess the question at hand is what does the fellow have in his shocks now?

[daveymc29]

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Whatever's in mine leaks out and when it's empty what should I refill it with? This latest set lasted about a week for the rebuilder until they started to leak. Unfortunately he has passed on and I haven't a clue what he put in them' Doesn't look like oil much, but doesn't have the sweet taste of glycerin either. How about jack fluid? I tried the tube shocks on the roadster and they jolt me half to death so I put the leakers back on.

[Charlie Stephens]

I use a 7 leaf roadster spring in my '31 RDPU and it rides a lot better.

Charlie Stephens

[MickeyT]

I put new springs on my '31 CCPU and removed 7 and 9 leaves. Rides great.

[Phil Brown]

Pull a few leaves from the spring, rides way better