VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 HELP ! Knee Shocks...!

I was interested in buying some NOS ( in the box ) front shocks for my '47, but I'm concerned the seals might be too old and leak or fail soon after installation...Any advise on risk involved...?

I sold quite a few sets of new GM Delco shocks and never had a leakage problem......are they in a Delco box? The new Delcos were painted black except the last three inches or so of the lever was unpainted. If lever is all black they are some kind of rebuilts.
Just to be sure you could add a very small amount jack oil that contains a seal sweller

when I first got my car the front shocks were very bouncy.I could put my foot on the front bumper and get it bouncing that the front tires would actually come off the ground.kinda funny in a way but not when going across a bridge,made it feel like you were riding a horse.I actually put brake fluid in mine and a couple of days they started working properly,not sure if that was the right thing to do but haven't seen any leaks yet, but the fluid could have swelled the seals.

Mine were bouncy, too. Adding jack oil got them working perfect...But they leak...Didn't know if seals are available short of sending them in to be rebuilt...

What else wears out...?

I would never mess with any replacement shocks, NOS etc., unless they are new rebuilt ones with a guarantee, like those from Apple. It is just too much work to replace the shocks, too do this job over again because of inferior shocks. It doesn't make sense. Until you have rebuilt a front end and dealt with aligning it you just do not know the complications you could have. Gene how long did it take a trained mechanic to replace and align a shock when you were doing it for a living? Good luck, Mike

P.S. There is a reason a lot of shocks are stuffed full of grease, or have no fluid in them, and are not operating correctly!!!

Looking at C of '40's and I see some "rubber bushings" for lever shocks, but are those the "seals", too ?
Funny I don't see anything else under knee shocks that say "seals"...

Kevin,

I don't think the bushings you mentioned are seals for the front shocks. I may be wrong but I believe the seals in a shock would be a tough job.

I recommend you follow Gene's sound advice. That's what I'm going to do.

All four of mine for the 41 convertible are NOS (in the box with unpainted ends). I intend to install them, along with the other parts (king pins, etc.,) to the front end, myself.*

My apologies to Mike who raised concerns about the labor involved, but being retired, I'm reminded of the joke where the farmer was found lifting a pig so it could leisurely eat some of the fruit of an apple tree. When asked if that wasn't mighty time consuming the farmer replied, "aw, shucks, whut's time to a pig."

Charlie

*There is an old front end alignment place in town where they used to work on front ends such as in the 41, If possible, I may get them to do the labor. All joking aside I don't look forward to doing the job myself.

The rubber seals are used to cover the upper link pins that the shocks are attached to. They protect the link pin from mud and dirt. I'm glad Charlie is going to try to find an experienced shop to do this work for him.

The seals that you have to change to stop the leaks are the shock absorber arm seals. To change those seals requires removal of the shock, cutting the weld that holds the front and rear arm together and then complete disassembly of the shock to replace the seals. Back in my younger days (30 years ago) when the shocks on my '40 were leaking I brazenly ordered two front shock kits from Kantor, however, when I got the kits and saw the extent of the work required, the kits were placed on a back shelf in the parts cabinet and I put heavier oil in the shocks to slow the leakage until I could afford to exchange the shocks at a parts house. I recommend removing them and sending them to a rebuilder.

Thanks, for the advise guys...And Charlie, where'd you hear that joke...? My pig was very upset to hear this...grin

I thought it might be wise to not waste time trying to rebuild something I have little knowledge of...Well, none really...And removal of those arms was my biggest concern...

So, I went ahead and placed a bid and won them on ebay...

NOS Delco lever action shocks ( L&R ) , in the box...$350 + shipping...
...And I checked, no paint on the arm ends...Considering the price of rebuilds, I think I'm ahead on this deal...Kevin

You might try adding a little brake fluid to your shocks, brake fluid has additives to keep the seals soft.

Sorry Kevin as Charlie would say, "don't count your chickens before they're hatched." You will know your new NOS shocks were a good deal if they don't leak after 6 months to a year of using them? I do wonder about comments about using lubricants that may soften the rubber so the seal won't leak? Have others rejuvenated their shocks this way? Thanks, Mike

I was just adding fluid...Turns out the right-side is fine...Works great, no leaks.

The left-side on the other hand needs to be refilled every week...leaks on one seal...

I'll try emptying it and using brake fluid or some sort of seal-swell and see if I can stop it...

If not I have two NOS shocks...( sweet ) grin

The seller said "he sold another pair and after 6 months and no leaks"...Didn't say how he knows this...

I purchased NOS lever shocks and they seem to work ok. I now have my old ones for sale. Although they are from a 46 pontiac.... sure they are common on chev's too.

The front shocks fit Chevrolet only.