VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 Shock Absorbers

The shocks on my '32 coupe are in place and look great, but don't do a lot. I have two questions. First, how much difference do working shocks make? Second, how much rebuilding do shocks normally take? Just fill with the hydraulic jack fluid or a whole lot more?

I was wondering the same thing about my '31 shocks, but not sure if '32 are the same. I didn't know if mine needed servicing or not since they seemed to have good springback when I moved the arm. I asked the Junkyard Dog and he sent me the following good info:

"When the arms spring back that is because there is a big spring inside of the shock absorber that makes the arm spring back. That has nothing to do with the hydraulic action of the shock. The hydraulic action is activated with the shock arm goes down, not up. If the shocks are not leaking, remove the filler plug on top of each shock and check for hydraulic fluid. If the shocks are still close to full, then your shocks do not need rebuilding. If the shocks are empty, fill them up with hydraulic jack oil and see if they leak. If they leak at that point then they need to be rebuilt. You can purchase a complete rebuild kit from the Filling Station and rebuild them."

I don't think he minds me passing his thoughts on to you. I checked out the rebuild kit and there doesn't look to be too much involved. I haven't bought it yet, but it's on my list of things to do.

these old shocks work only in one direction. Modern ones work bidirectional. That means, the old ones dont have much effect. They can have at least 50% power of a modern one. Did rebuilt mine last year (1931 model) and it was not only leaking. Oil got lost and water came in, means, the pistons did stick in rust and it was hard work to get them out.
After rebuilding they did work but I did feel just a little difference between driving without and with rebuilded shocks.

This are 80 year old cars, its fun to ride them, but lot of things will never be like a modern car of today.

Stefangermany

That is so true!

"This are 80 year old cars, its fun to ride them, but lot of things will never be like a modern car of today."

That is exactly why I try to keep them as stock as practical. What is the challenge in driving a modern reliable, comfort contraption? Anybody can get in turn the key and go from A to B in a modern car. It takes someone with initiative, optimism, courage and planning to take to the road in one these old Chevys and back home (maybe with a few replaced parts).

these vehicles put adventure back into driving.

I drove around with the rear shocks removed and really couldn't tell much difference

It's all marketing. We've got something that the competition doesn't and you need it if you want to be in the best, most up-to-date ride in town.

If you beat the competetion it's na na na na na!!! If they be you, it's to the board room and what are we going to do to counter this new fangled idea.

Anybody can turn a key. Takes real multi-tasking to hold the clutch, turn the key on, retard the spark, set the choke and push the start button with the other foot. Then you got to push all of those buttons in and push the clutch in and shift. And the reward is driving in class....something these modern day shoe box cars aint got a chance at.