Rear shock with serious leak

First shakedown drive after completing all sorts of work on the fuel and cooling systems, and everything went well... until I got home and parked the car in the driveway while I cleaned up the garage, and I found a foot-long puddle under the rear passenger side, near the tire. It was such an odd location to have a leak, but the fluid also smelled unique, almost like hydraulic fluid. It appears to be running down the shock and onto the ground, and based on how much fluid is on the shock, I am assuming that the shock has experienced a sudden failure. Here's a bit more leakage after I pulled it into the garage:
Attachment 66585

The shocks were purchased and installed by the PO in 2008 from Special T Auto. I have very much enjoyed the ride quality, but since John Hervey passed away, it doesn't look like Special T offers these shocks for sale. The other 3 shocks are still working, so I'm inclined to just replace the one that has failed, but don't know if that's possible to get a close match elsewhere.

Does anyone recall where Hervey got his shocks from? I don't see any branding on the shocks, except for a Special T sticker. The parts receipt is also vague with the part number being 100110ST and the description being "complete shock kit." If you're interested, this kit went for $249.95 back then.

I would not recommend replacing one shock when they are that old. You don't have to replace all four, but do both rears.

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Originally Posted by Stainless

First shakedown drive after completing all sorts of work on the fuel and cooling systems, and everything went well... until I got home and parked the car in the driveway while I cleaned up the garage, and I found a foot-long puddle under the rear passenger side, near the tire. It was such an odd location to have a leak, but the fluid also smelled unique, almost like hydraulic fluid. It appears to be running down the shock and onto the ground, and based on how much fluid is on the shock, I am assuming that the shock has experienced a sudden failure. Here's a bit more leakage after I pulled it into the garage:
Attachment 66585

The shocks were purchased and installed by the PO in 2008 from Special T Auto. I have very much enjoyed the ride quality, but since John Hervey passed away, it doesn't look like Special T offers these shocks for sale. The other 3 shocks are still working, so I'm inclined to just replace the one that has failed, but don't know if that's possible to get a close match elsewhere.

Does anyone recall where Hervey got his shocks from? I don't see any branding on the shocks, except for a Special T sticker. The parts receipt is also vague with the part number being 100110ST and the description being "complete shock kit." If you're interested, this kit went for $249.95 back then.

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John often put Special T stickers over original part numbers; try taking the sticker off and maybe you'll find a number underneath. The 100110ST number is almost certainly a number internal to John's business. You know what the ST stands for.

Regardless, I'd probably replace both rears anyway. The shocks that you're using aren't actually made for the DeLorean, they're just made to work on the DeLorean. This is evident by the fact that the spring cup is sitting on a shaft collar that has been clamped around the shock body. The original Girling shocks had a groove in the body for a special collar to nest into, that also fit inside the spring cup. Now the majority of modern upgrades have a threaded body. Years ago there weren't as many aftermarket options and John was known for his creative thinking to find alternatives, but now options are abundant.

Nothing wrong with the original Girlings. DMC has them for $75 a pair for the rear (yes, for the pair). I put them on due to leakage and have worked well for 4 years. Part no. 100408

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stainless

First shakedown drive after completing all sorts of work on the fuel and cooling systems, and everything went well... until I got home and parked the car in the driveway while I cleaned up the garage, and I found a foot-long puddle under the rear passenger side, near the tire. It was such an odd location to have a leak, but the fluid also smelled unique, almost like hydraulic fluid. It appears to be running down the shock and onto the ground, and based on how much fluid is on the shock, I am assuming that the shock has experienced a sudden failure. Here's a bit more leakage after I pulled it into the garage:
Attachment 66585

The shocks were purchased and installed by the PO in 2008 from Special T Auto. I have very much enjoyed the ride quality, but since John Hervey passed away, it doesn't look like Special T offers these shocks for sale. The other 3 shocks are still working, so I'm inclined to just replace the one that has failed, but don't know if that's possible to get a close match elsewhere.

Does anyone recall where Hervey got his shocks from? I don't see any branding on the shocks, except for a Special T sticker. The parts receipt is also vague with the part number being 100110ST and the description being "complete shock kit." If you're interested, this kit went for $249.95 back then.

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Yes, I have direct experience with them. I bought a KYB set in 2014 from SpecialT/John Hervey complete with the "shock collars" in your picture. After they arrived, they didn't seem like a safe setup, so I researched what these were, and promptly returned them. I had an extended conversation with him to have him agree to the return.

According to him, after he stopped offering Spax, these sets were cobbled together and sold by John.

By my measurements, deciphering the ground off part number, and cross-referencing the information on the manufacturer part catalog, (at least for the KYB set) the front was for a Ford van which extended beyond the design limits of the Delorean and therefore would damage your frame when on a lift.

The rear was for a Ford Mustang and per KYB Technical Support were definitely not designed to have a collar attached and function as a strut (as mentioned by Nick above).

My educated guess is that the rear shock failed because it wasn't designed to carry the load of the car.

More here, post #9: http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?14...-drop-with-age

Based on this, I would definitely recommend immediately removing these 4 shocks and get a proper shock set.

I chose DMC's performance shock set, but to each their own.

I had one rear Hervey shock leak also. I replaced the rears with the stock DMCH shocks. Luckily I kept the OEM collars and retainers.

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Originally Posted by Bitsyncmaster

I had one rear Hervey shock leak also. I replaced the rears with the stock DMCH shocks. Luckily I kept the OEM collars and retainers.

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I'm leaning towards the economy approach and going back to the stock shocks, but I don't have the original, stock parts, like the split support collar (101205A) or the rear spring platform (101205). The rear spring platform is NLA from DMCH, but is $128.99 per platform from DeLoreanGo. That's a pricey piece of metal, but it still appears to be a solid option as the rear Spax shocks and others are much more than that. Too bad my PO didn't hold onto them.

After looking at my current setup again, I realized that Hervey's setup must have used the original spring platform, which will save me hundreds by not having to get those. Looks like I just need the shocks and the split support collars and I should be set. Thank goodness!
Attachment 66604

There should be alot of extra split collars sitting around with people upgrading to coilovers. Id ask around someone may just send you theirs.

I would need time to go look and find them but I'm almost 100% certain I have platforms, collars and at least 1 OEM rear shock I can part with.

I also found out that DMCH is out of rear shocks. They said to check back with them in the later part of July to see if it has been restocked... but I'd like to be driving my car and not wait that long. If you were in my shoes, what would you say is the best option #2?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stainless

I also found out that DMCH is out of rear shocks. They said to check back with them in the later part of July to see if it has been restocked... but I'd like to be driving my car and not wait that long. If you were in my shoes, what would you say is the best option #2?

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In that case, I would check with your nearest DMC franchise location, P.J. Grady, Delorean Northwest (Toby), Delorean Go or DeLorean Europe.

For those that are curious, I removed the leaking shock today and found that Special T did just put a rubber or plastic wrap around the original markings. Here are the markings I found:

Attachment 66751 Attachment 66752

I am leaning towards Spax shocks and will take this opportunity to replace the fronts as well. I suspect the bushings up front are a possible cause of some noise, so once again, a simple project is snowballing into much more.