|
| | | Supreme Being
Group:
Last Login: Yesterday @ 2:54 PM
Posts: 158, Visits: 1,035 |
| This weekend I got around to installing the rear KYB gas shock absorbers I purchased from Concours Parts. I jacked up the rear and positioned the jack stand under the frame and removed the rear wheel/tire assembly which has always been a pita to jockey the wheel/tire around the fender lip to get it out. I then gave the old Gabriel Red Rider shock studs a liberal dose of penetrating oil and ratcheted off the lower stud nut. Imagine my surprise when the nut reached the end of the stud and the leaf spring violently sprung down sending the rubber donuts and steel washers across the garage. Thankfully my fat head wasn't under the spring at the time and I was wearing safety glasses. It seems the PO had the wrong length Gabriels installed sometime in the past which required the installer to compress the leaf spring in order to get the shock bolted on. The extended free length of the KYB and Gabriels differed by about 3 inches. With the KYBs installed, the wheel/tires were a breeze to reinstall and the ride has improvement difference is like night and day. The height of the rear of the car gained about a 1/2 inch. I have read posts on this site about the trouble of removing rear wheels, so my advice is check them shocks!
BrodieSavannah, GA |
| |
| | | Forum Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 2:28 PM
Posts: 42, Visits: 1,710 |
| | A wake up call, with positive results, no one hurt, a lesson learned.. Never trust an unknown work on previous equipment.. Try working behind Texas Electricians..Yikes..
  Brother and I own/operate 1957 Ford Fairlane 312/4x2 and two 1963 Falcons 302 rollers carburated 600cfm, FE427 sitting in shed.. |
| |
| | | Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Thursday, January 01, 2009 10:17 AM
Posts: 212, Visits: 539 |
| I found the same thing wrong with one of my cars, shocks shorter than they should have been, with the new ones it is much easier to change the wheels.
 55 Vicky & customline 58 Rack Dump 55 F350 yard truck 57 F100 59 & 61 P 400's |
| |
| | | Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Sunday, January 04, 2009 12:16 AM
Posts: 870, Visits: 5,232 |
| | |
| | | Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 7:21 PM
Posts: 255, Visits: 1,407 |
| | Sounds like the po's were trying to lower the car by FORCE! These cars are always interesting...
 Winchester, VA |
| |
| | | Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Thursday, January 01, 2009 10:17 AM
Posts: 212, Visits: 539 |
| You don't want too long a shock though, they will bottom out on bumps and you will just pound the rubbers out of them.
55 Vicky & customline 58 Rack Dump 55 F350 yard truck 57 F100 59 & 61 P 400's |
| |
| | | Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 3:55 PM
Posts: 981, Visits: 1,704 |
| | Chuck, I've got to pull the rear springs out of the red car this winter, Ican measure what a 57 is if that'll help. Summit says they're 20.5" extended. I'll see what the Concours shocks are. Frank
Frank/RebopBristol, In ( by Elkhart) 
|
| |
| | | Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Sunday, January 04, 2009 12:16 AM
Posts: 870, Visits: 5,232 |
| | |
| | | | |
|