VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 1940 front shock absorber

Hello everybody,

Spring is waking up, nice weather here, time, to begin my 1940 chevy season.

My Question: The service instruction recommends to check the shock absorbers all 5000 mls and to fill up oil if neccessary. To fill up the rear shocks they must bew taken out of the car. Easy, done.
The front shocks are part of the suspension and upper control arms. I did understand they remain in the car while checking and filling with oil.
I could not find detailled info about where to find the filler plug. Who does know about it?
Is it that one single screw on inner side at top of the shock absorber unit?

Thanks for help

Stefangermany

Stefan,

It's the small bolt at the top of the unit. About a 3/8s or 7/16 I think. Refer to your shop manual for filling instructions.
Charlie

Hi Stefen, here is a picture of the top of a shock. As Charlie said the oil (hydraulic fluid) is added at the plug at the top most part of the shock (area next to the frame rail). There is a washer under the plug made out of copper so handle it carefully so it can be reused. You will need something small like an eyedropper to easily fill the reservoir.

If you can easily bounce the car up and down by pushing on the front fender over the wheel the shock is probably out of oil, or low on oil, or just full of grease. If you get a stiff reaction from pushing down on the fender the reservoir is probably adequately full and not leaking. I hope you have shocks that are not leaking or not full of grease. If you find that you have a leaking shock after adding fluid you are in for a big job to replace the shock or shocks. They normally leak from the bushings where the arms of the shocks enter the body of the shocks. Knowing how fast you like to drive your shocks need to be in excellent condition (not leaking)?

We are also enjoying unusually warm weather, but with it has come tornadoes and wonder at what future weather will bring. Hi to Leftyne and best wishes, Mike

Hello Mike,

Thanks for advice, yes indeed I thought it could be that plug, but I wanted to ask befor doing "try and error" because I follow an old german speech (I try to translate): "Doing and after that thinking about brings often trouble out"...

ok, I'll do my best. when I bought the car one year ago the seller said "sorry, shocks are out of order" and part of the selling contract was to get them back in order. Later theys told me they were just dry after decades of storage (the car), and after refilling they were ok.
during last year I didnt find signs of leaks so I have hope to find oil inside, but as you know me I feel better to know it is ok than to think it might be ok.
Leftyne did begin a new job not long ago, now on board of a plane instead behind a service desk...

Last question: Starting the new chevy season I began as usual with a grease job at front axle. lots of points to visit with a grease gun, as you know. Am I right the inner top arm (means the arm going into the shock absorber) is lubed by the oil in the shock and has no outer grease fittings? or did I just not find them?

Stefangermany

Hi Stefan, You are right there are no grease fittings on the shocks. Good luck, Mike