Shocks correction

Jay Laifman (Jay_Laifman(at)countrywide.com)
Thu, 2 Jul 1998 08:04:22 -0700


In my earlier posting about shocks, I said the fronts were also for a Corvette. That is wrong. It is the rears that are for a Corvette. The Gabriel 42340 - "Red Rider" fits a 1960-62 Corvette, 1976-87 Chevette, 1984-89 Isuzu Impulse, 1980-87 AMC Eagle, Datsun 510, 710 Toyota. I did get a Monroe cross reference for the "Super 500" with nnumber 4009.

These are also for the SIII-V and Tiger suspension. Not the SI or SII.

Since the crucial factor is that the suspension bottoms before the shock, what we really need are the dimensions of the suspension at full compression. I figure a good way to measure this is to measure the length of the shock at rest. I believe the dimension used is from the center of the eyehole on the bottom to the top of the shock where the threaded bolt comes out. Then measure the distance between the rubber bumper and where it hits the suspension. Subtract the bumper to suspension from the shock length and we have a rough estimate of the maximum compression size of the shock. I realize there are some errors in this number - the plane of the bumper to suspension spot is slightly different than that of the shock, so the number may be off a little. There is also the amount that the bumper will compress. Then there are the cars that have lost their bumpers all together. But something is better than nothing - unless this number is already in the books somewhere. Maybe all we really should do is grab an original Armstrong and measure its size at compression! I think my dad still has his. I'll ask him to measure them.

Jay