Thread: coil over shock question

Tweet

I recently bought a 1929 model A , in the rear it has adjustable coil overs. The car is leaning to the right the adjuster knob is at the same on both sides and I guess the spring preload is at the same number of threads, now I did notice a little oil on the right shock could that be the problem ? or should I just adjust the spring? it is approx an inch difference leaning to the right. I also glanced under the car this evening I only got the car on Monday and havn't had a whole lot of time to look it over but the upper shock bolts look as if they maybe a little loose I didn't see it the screw into the frame or go all the way through with a nut on the other side I will take a look tomorrow. could this be the problem as well?

thanks ,
simon

I think a close check out of the entire rear suspension is in order.... some measuing and checking the shocks for leaks should be part of this. Properly tighten all the bolts and make sure none of the mounts are cracked or bent.... Measure both coilovers at the installed height, they should be the same---if the shocks are good and the springs have the same tension. I would be for sure checking things over closely before I went for a drive in the car!!!!!

Oil on the shock from leaking will have nothing at all to do with the attitude of the car. The shock itself will have nothing to do with the attitude of the car. Shock absorbers are simply linear de-accelerators. They bear no load whatsoever. That is the job of the springs that wrap around the shocks in your case. The shock's job is to dampen the bump and droop of the suspension components and keep the car from "boing-boinging" down the road.

I still laugh about one of my son's friends who had a Chevelle. I was talking to him one day and suggested he replace the shocks. I said just remove them and replace them. He said no, I can't until I get a way to support the body. If I take the shocks off, the body will fall. I explained how it works to him and he was ok with it then, but it still makes me laugh to think about it.

Like Dave said, get up in there and snoop around. Something's wrong. Either a bracket is bent or a bolt has backed out or the builder didn't know what he was doing in the first place and has failed to equalize placement of the support brackets/mounting holes. Inspect thoroughly before driving. Find the problem.

I know somebody will come along and say that their air shocks hold the car up and they'd be correct. But these should properly be called an "air spring with integral shock absorber device", not an air shock.