Busted Front Shocks - Help!!!!

[Ryan King]

As some of you may have read, I failed on my attempt at a Cross-Country road trip to Pennsylvania due to a fuel pump issue -

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?605-Fuel-Pump-Failure

Apparently my fuel pump wasn't the only victim of the horrible bumpy road... I have noticed that my steering wheel/handling has been VERY bumpy. So I jacked up the front end of the car to find my front Right shock is leaking fluid and my front Left shock is bent and has trouble coming back down when pushed fully up... These are newer shocks, John Hervey's Easy Rider I's. They both seemed to have failed.

Basically, to be completely honest, I am incredibly pinched for money, and was going to reach out asking if anyone has an extra set of front shocks they would be willing to give up or sell cheaply. I just don't have the cash right now to buy a nice set and I use the DeLorean to go back and fourth to work. If anyone could help, please let me know. I would really appreciate it. Thanks...

-Ryan

[nofear365]

As some of you may have read, I failed on my attempt at a Cross-Country road trip to Pennsylvania due to a fuel pump issue -

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?605-Fuel-Pump-Failure

Apparently my fuel pump wasn't the only victim of the horrible bumpy road... I have noticed that my steering wheel/handling has been VERY bumpy. So I jacked up the front end of the car to find my front Right shock is leaking fluid and my front Left shock is bent and has trouble coming back down when pushed fully up... These are newer shocks, John Hervey's Easy Rider I's. They both seemed to have failed.

Basically, to be completely honest, I am incredibly pinched for money, and was going to reach out asking if anyone has an extra set of front shocks they would be willing to give up or sell cheaply. I just don't have the cash right now to buy a nice set and I use the DeLorean to go back and fourth to work. If anyone could help, please let me know. I would really appreciate it. Thanks...

-Ryan

I have O.E. shocks in my garage that I'm not using. They have 13,000 miles on them and I only took them off to upgrade to Eibachs. PM me.

[Ryan King]

I have O.E. shocks in my garage that I'm not using. They have 13,000 miles on them and I only took them off to upgrade to Eibachs. PM me.

Thank you, I'll shoot you a PM

[TTait]

You can also just purchase locally a pair of Monroe 32150 shocks, and a couple of washers to use as spacers. I know you don't have a lot of cash, but these are Cheap and they work fine. They are a bit softer than stock.

also, Hervey may be able to replace yours free, they should have a warranty.

Tom

[Ryan King]

You can also just purchase locally a pair of Monroe 32150 shocks, and a couple of washers to use as spacers. I know you don't have a lot of cash, but these are Cheap and they work fine. They are a bit softer than stock.

also, Hervey may be able to replace yours free, they should have a warranty.

Tom

Have you tried the Monroes before Tom?

[Nicholas R]

I used to have monroe shocks on the front. They worked fine. Finally replaced them when I put on the Eibach system. I agree, a bit softer than the ones that come with the Eibach kit; course with lowering the car, the shocks would have to be stiffer.

[TTait]

Yes, I've had Monroes on both they cars - they drive fine. You will feel a little roll in them if you lay into a corner hard, but 99%of the time I prefer them to the stiffer shocks.

Its a cheap part and an easy fix. Remember to grease your angle drive and check your dust cap while you have the wheel off.

I think these were originally made for a nissan pickup.

For me the real trick is the rear shocks - there are cross reference shocks you can pick up there too that are adequate, but without a spring perch you can't use them.

One car is running all monroes, while the other is running Ed Udings (DMC-EU) set. Eds shocks are better as they are adjustable for height in the rear and all 4 have adjustable stiffness - but for the buck the monroes are worry free.

[Ryan King]

I used to have monroe shocks on the front. They worked fine. Finally replaced them when I put on the Eibach system. I agree, a bit softer than the ones that come with the Eibach kit; course with lowering the car, the shocks would have to be stiffer.

My front end is lowered. Would they still work?

[Ryan King]

I just got off the phone with John Hervey to see if a replacement is available. He was going to look into the warranty information. *fingers crossed*

[BigBenb84]

I still have all my original Girlings shocks too. I took them off the car 2 years ago. They have 10,000 miles on them. Really stiff, I assume from age. I been keeping them in case another D owner needed them, I'd give them for free. Maybe this is that case...

I see the other guy that offered his is in NY. I'm not much closer in the FL panhandle. Just reimburse my shipping costs.

I have the rears too but you just wanted the fronts.
2364

[TTait]

I have to admit - its hard to beat free!

I think that typically lowered springs will bring the front down 1 or maybe 2 inches. Yes you could get a shock with less travel, but it would still bottom out at the same point. For the most part its just that the lower springs are a bit stiffer. so that in theory they reach maximum compression at the same force as a standard spring, not before it.

The job of the shock is to stop bounce as the spring recoils - mostly. I know in the real world there is more to it than that but its the majority of the application.

Any of these shocks should still be fine if your not beating the car to death.

Then again - you did say you just killed two front shocks that were fairly new...

[Chris 16409]

Ryan and I just finished installing a pair of replacement shocks. He needs his car to drive to work, so he couldn't have his car down for a few days. We decided to check out the Monroe shock option at the local O'Reilly Auto Parts, but they didn't have them in stock. We drove across the street to Autozone to see what they had.

Apparently, Autozone does not carry Monroe Shocks, but they were able to cross reference it to a Gabriel Guardian shock. We had never heard of this brand before, but they had a lifetime warranty. Additionally, they were only $20 a shock, so we figured we'd give them a try. So far they are fine, much better than blown out shocks anyway. I'm attaching a photo of the shock box, as well as a link to a video we made about the blown Easy Riders.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_QZSd1j2M0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_QZSd1j2M0

[DMC3165]

Ryan and I just finished installing a pair of replacement shocks. He needs his car to drive to work, so he couldn't have his car down for a few days. We decided to check out the Monroe shock option at the local O'Reilly Auto Parts, but they didn't have them in stock. We drove across the street to Autozone to see what they had.

Apparently, Autozone does not carry Monroe Shocks, but they were able to cross reference it to a Gabriel Guardian shock. We had never heard of this brand before, but they had a lifetime warranty. Additionally, they were only $20 a shock, so we figured we'd give them a try. So far they are fine, much better than blown out shocks anyway. I'm attaching a photo of the shock box, as well as a link to a video we made about the blown Easy Riders.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_QZSd1j2M0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Nice video. Those easy riders might as well be paper weights judging by your vid. Gabriels are a decent brand. I've never used them before but I see them offered everywhere out here. Maybe they are just not that popular on the west coast. I think you should be fine with them.

[coreydmc]

I am in need of shocks also. I dont mind putting monroes or gabriel shocks on my car. Can someone please let me know what the part numbers are for these shocks for front and rear?

thanks in advance!

[Chris 16409]

Can someone please let me know what the part numbers are for these shocks for front and rear?

On the first page of this thread, the part number for the Monroe's was given: 32150
That number is for the fronts, I don't know what the rears are. Maybe someone else can chime in on that. The part for the Gabriel shocks is shown on the picture of the box I posted.

[coreydmc]

I have been after some monroes or gabriel shocks for the rear for sometime now. If anyone knows a part number please let me know. I know I will have to fit a collar to these to hold the spring on the rears if I go this route!

[TTait]

While there is a Monroe that will fit the rear (don't have info at hand but it used to show in cross reference lists) BUT its very difficult to try to use.

Note that the original girlings have a raised bead on the shock body that interfaces with a split ring and the lower spring cup to form a perch for the rear spring. Monroes don't have it. No other shocks I know of will use the oem spring perch system.

Basically, you can't install it properly without having a custom spring perch manufactured. It has to be very precise, and if it fails or is poorly manufactured, you're hosed.

Fronts are easy, but you really need to buy rears from one of the vendors unless you happen to run a machine shop...

[DMCMW Dave]

In addition to needing the "perch" to support the lower spring cup, most of the non-vendor aftermarket shocks available for the rears are designed to be used only as shock absorber, not weight-supporting suspension parts.

In this respect the OEM shock is simlar to - but not quite - a McPherson strut setup (since it's not carrying lateral loads).

In many cases the lower shock bushing and/or mount may not be up to the task of holding the weight of the car (in the normal application the spring is supported by some other suspension part, and the shock is ONLY dampening the spring, not carrying the weight of the car).

Be very careful about this. In some cases I've seen stronger bushings have been retrofitted, but in many cases they are just "out of the box".

[DMC3165]

I just picked up a set of the Gabriels today and installed them. So far so good. I just have one question about using these. I always hear about everyone talking about using washers when installing these. Are you guys talking about using the washers to shim up the space on either side of the shock where it attaches to the lower control arm? That was the only place I saw a need for washers. Wasn't crazy about doing that either but its done now.

[Ryan King]

I just picked up a set of the Gabriels today and installed them. So far so good. I just have one question about using these. I always hear about everyone talking about using washers when installing these. Are you guys talking about using the washers to shim up the space on either side of the shock where it attaches to the lower control arm? That was the only place I saw a need for washers. Wasn't crazy about doing that either but its done now.

I didn't use washers...mine seem to be just fine with no problems! Were the shocks you got red? Mine came in a really old box, almost as though they had been on the shelf for a long period of time.

[BigBenb84]

Are you guys talking about using the washers to shim up the space on either side of the shock where it attaches to the lower control arm?

Yes.

[DMC3165]

I didn't use washers...mine seem to be just fine with no problems! Were the shocks you got red? Mine came in a really old box, almost as though they had been on the shelf for a long period of time.

Yup they were red, and also in a really old box. I had OEM Girling shocks all way around. But they were very old, probably only had 40-50K on them but very little life to them.

The Girling has an elongated eyehook on the bottom of the shock that sticks out about 1/2" on each side of the bushing. it's solid metal and makes contact with both sides (front and back) of the lower control arm when its in place. The gabriel can be bolted in place without the washers but the bottom can shift back and forth on the bolt while driving. Also the stock lower control arms twist and bend very easily. The washers when tightened up against the shock will help stabilize the LCA and prevent further torsional twisting.

Maybe you have aftermaket LCA's that fit the Gabriels better then OEM. I wasn't comfortable putting it back together without the washers.

[DMC3165]

Yes.

Thank you

:wave2:

[Ryan King]

Yup they were red, and also in a really old box. I had OEM Girling shocks all way around. But they were very old, probably only had 40-50K on them but very little life to them.

The Girling has an elongated eyehook on the bottom of the shock that sticks out about 1/2" on each side of the bushing. it's solid metal and makes contact with both sides (front and back) of the lower control arm when its in place. The gabriel can be bolted in place without the washers but the bottom can shift back and forth on the bolt while driving. Also the stock lower control arms twist and bend very easily. The washers when tightened up against the shock will help stabilize the LCA and prevent further torsional twisting.

Maybe you have aftermaket LCA's that fit the Gabriels better then OEM. I wasn't comfortable putting it back together without the washers.

Hmmm...I didn't think about that. I will look into that myself later. Thanks for the tip.

[DMC3165]

Hmmm...I didn't think about that. I will look into that myself later. Thanks for the tip.

Just curious Ryan, How'd you make out with this?

[Ryan King]

Just curious Ryan, How'd you make out with this?

Haven't had a chance to look yet!

[pt11334]

When replacing the shocks with the Gabriel, did you guys replace the front only or both the front and back?