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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Tube shocks

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Posted By Discussion Topic: Tube shocks -- page: 1 2     cheatercarl 02-19-2010 @ 5:43 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 3 Joined: Feb 2010 I just recently replaced my stock lever style shocks on my 41 Coupe w/all the parts from a 1948 coupe. My lever shocks were recently rebuilt & in fine working order, but I had come across a 48 chassis & gutted it. So now it has tube shocks all the way around & I will swear up & down that the ride/handling is much improved! Believe it or not the local Advanced Auto Parts not only had a listing for the shocks, but had them in stock, the were about $14.00 each. I did a little homework w/the counter guy & the fronts are the same tube shocks offered on a 48-53 Ford F1 Truck! Sincerely, Cheatercarl johnmyron 02-17-2010 @ 1:29 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 97 Joined: Oct 2009 Not really a problem, just sloppier than I would like. Shackle bars, shock links all standard, springs original. May be the issue. supereal 02-17-2010 @ 9:04 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 My '47 has factory tubes. It was made, according to the glass dates, in late '47. As for double action, I don't know of any single action tube shocks. Most modern tube shocks have excellent variable valving that accommodates differences in road surface. Lever shocks were devised to replace the friction disks of early cars. Anyone who thinks lever shocks are superior to tubes probably hasn't owned many cars. My early cars, particularly Model A's, were unsafe on rough roads at any speed much above 25 mph, as they could hop clear off the ground. jerry.grayson 02-17-2010 @ 8:20 AM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 128 Joined: Oct 2009 Supereal, I believe that the tube shocks were introduced in the 48 cars because they were CHEAPER and were (hopefully) longer lasting, not better working.JMO jerry.grayson 02-17-2010 @ 8:13 AM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 128 Joined: Oct 2009 Many tube shocks are single action or slight action in one direction, the Ford lever shocks are DOUBLE action. By double action I mean that they control the downward movement of the body as well as the upward movement. This results in control of roll in a turn. The OEM lever shocks are better in my opinion. TomO 02-16-2010 @ 7:01 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 7250 Joined: Oct 2009 John, did you have the handling problem before you installed the 2 speed rear end? Do you have longer shackle bars than stock? Are your shock links longer than stock? Are your springs new, or do they have lots of miles on them? All of these things affect stability. Your car had less roll at high speeds when new than most of the new cars in 1946. The transverse springs tend to limit sway compared to parallel springs. Tom supereal 02-15-2010 @ 10:05 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 The main reason that tube shocks contain body roll is that they are mounted with a bit of angle that addresses sway, while the lever (Houdaille) type have just up and down links. Good quality tube shocks have variable valving to adjust to the amount of movement, including spring rebound. Matching the shocks to the car is essential. Many of the gas filled shocks will not help, and make things worse if they are designed for modern cars. ford38v8 02-14-2010 @ 12:09 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 2758 Joined: Oct 2009 John, check your center spring perches. Even a very slight looseness there will produce a roll that no shock absorber can handle. Alan johnmyron 02-14-2010 @ 10:42 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 97 Joined: Oct 2009 everything is new. Can't help but think that tube shocks would work more effectively than the knee action hydraulics. Thanks, John Wells johnmyron 02-14-2010 @ 10:41 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 97 Joined: Oct 2009 I restored this car frame off. All bushings, etc are new. Sway bar, track bar, etc all there. Had the hydraulic knee action shocks rebuilt by a guy in oregon, and they have good resistance. May try adjusting resistance up first. Thanks, John Wells

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