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Front Shocks.

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Dr_EluSivE

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Hello!, long time no visit... Anyway i got the Midget out for the first time in probably 2 years and took it for a drive. (Among other things) i found that the front Pass side Shock is shot. It makes it handle strange. Its been so long since i have messed with them, but remind me what kind of fluid goes into the shocks. I am hoping it just leaked out. If not does anyone know of a possible Tube shock Conversion for the front? I am not a huge fan of the lever shocks, so i hate to put a new one on with looking at all the options.

-Dr.
 
Tube shocks are for Chevys. I just bought a Midget with a tube shock kit and it handles like a Chevy.
Of course you can buy very good tube shocks but after the price of the kit and the good shocks, you could have put 2 sets of levers on the car.
Worl Wide Auto Parts, Madison, WI is THE only place to buy rebuilt lever shocks. Peter Caldwell <peter@nosimport.com>
 
I just put rear's on from world Wide Auto (Peter C) @ www.nosimports.com -- literally tonight. Refilled fronts (feel like I had to remove half the car to get the passenger side off (modified altenator bracket / brake line that wrapped around the dampener) -- once off, I took the front plate off (6 small bolts) and let it drain while working the arm back & forth. Refilled with 30Wt (Peter recommended 20Wt - but that is what I had and was too lazy to go to the store). Resealed top with RTV and tightened moderatley. Used bleeder screw to top off while again, working arm to get air bubles out.

Will let you know how they worked out. It's my first time.

Some good posts to review are:

How to tell if the dampener / shock is bad:

https://www.britishcarforum.com/ubbthread...true#Post194468

How to refill (with diagram):
https://www.britishcarforum.com/ubbthread...true#Post190421

Have fun.

Geo
 
Another vote for Peter C's rebuilt levers. I put a set on when I rebuilt my Midget a couple years ago, and they've been great.

Frank, does that mean if I put levers on my Chevy it'll handle like a Sprite? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

-=Chris
 
I have only driven my car on bad levers, so I do not have an informed opinion. But after reading many opinions in various forums and websites, it seems to me that the debate on tube vs. lever is purely subjective.

I will be converting my car to tubes. I will be making my conversion "kit" myself, and it is going to cost me less than half what having my levers rebuilt will cost. Check out these links:

https://teglerizer.com/mgstuff/tubeshocks.htm

https://npmccabe.tripod.com/spritetubeshock.htm

From what I have read, a pair of well rebuilt, well maintained lever shocks will last forever. So, if you consider that a pair of tube shocks is going to last 5 years max of regular driving, the levers are a better long term investment

If you are not interested in building your conversion yourself, don't waste your money on the kits available at Moss and VB. They look like rip-offs to me.

Just my $.02.
 
Just my 2 cents, but from what I've read, I'd be very hesitant to convert the front shocks to tube shocks. Check out this link from motorheadltd... https://www.motorheadltd.com/chamber_of_horrors.htm

The wishbone on these cars was not designed for the stress that the shock conversion kits place on them, resulting in broken wishbones. Too critical a part... not worth chancing the thing breaking while driving.. IMHO.
 
Just finished mine enough to become driveable. Wif-ee & I went to dinner. 30 - 45 minute drive. Drove some familar roads and WOW !!

I am really impressed on the improved ride and abiity to handle a turn quickly (wif-ee did not like that part).

I just refilled front shocks, replaced rear shocks & bushings. Bearings all around. WOW !!

George
 
[ QUOTE ]
Nial addresses the very problem shown in that link in his conversion.

https://npmccabe.tripod.com/spritetubeshock.htm

However, Nial did tear off a tube shock while racing once. As I recall, he managed to finish the race regardless.

[/ QUOTE ]

I did a conversion rather similar to Nials and also had a shock mount fail at the body. I've sinced reinforced the upper shock mount with 1/4" steel and have had NO problems.

The gabriel shocks I used (also for a dodge colt) were the only significant cost in the conversion and I don't think they cost more than $15 a piece. I doubt I have more than $60 in my front tube gas shock conversion and I think it was worth every penny!
 
I'm interesed in doing this conversion, but I'm completely inept when it comes to producing custom parts and so forth. Would you guys be willing to put together a shopping list of things you used to do the conversion?

Rob - I'm especially interested in your $60 conversion.

Joel
 
I picked up gabriel gas ryders for a dodge colt like Nial suggests in his write up.

The upper mounts were some weld on shock mounts I had lying around after doing some work on my jeep. I ended up putting a 5"x3" piece of plate behind it and welded/bolted it to the body.

My lower mount was made with some scrap 1"x0.125" box tubing attached to the spring retaining bolts on the A-arm.

Here's the original thread were I have some pics posted:

https://www.britishcarforum.com/ubbthread...true#Post108074
 
Thanks for the link Rob. I'm going to try and do this conversion at some point, although I have no welding skills. We'll see how it pans out.

Joel
 
Different line, that 2.3 turbo motor is as potent as you want to make it. If you ever take the oil pan off, the mains are huge. I've heard that when road raced in the late eightes it made 1000 HORSES. I always wondered what one would do in a TR6, the bulletproof five speed and rear end. The one in my old Tbird made 190 hp w/ 240 ftlb torque.
 
Please understand, I don't mean to be critical, but I am curious. Besides the fun factor of messing around with things mechanical (which I do enjoy), what are the benefits of taking scrap pieces of steel and welding or fabricating them into brackets to enable the use of a tube shock from a long-forgotten Japanese econo-car? Or, asking another way, what are the inherent deficiencies of a lever shock? This is an honest question; self-serving, perhaps, in that I want to know what the perceived down-side(s) is to having levers.

I will be giving a tech-talk at Mg2006, and would like to try to address various topics.

I appreciate your input.

Peter C.
 
[ QUOTE ]
asking another way, what are the inherent deficiencies of a lever shock?

[/ QUOTE ]

Fade and a lack of adjustability. Eventually I will probable go with some adjustable shocks....
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
asking another way, what are the inherent deficiencies of a lever shock?

[/ QUOTE ]

Fade and a lack of adjustability. Eventually I will probable go with some adjustable shocks....

[/ QUOTE ]

OK. I that's solvable. Thank you.

Anyone else?

Peter C.
 
Coming from a very uniformed pov... price. If getting both of my front shocks rebuilt cost less than $60. I would not consider tubes. Also, the playing with scrap bits of steal part is very appealing to me. I will always put labor into a project before money. Of course, usually I end up putting plenty of both in before all is said and done.

I think the biggest reason most people consider tubes is that we gravitate toward what is familiar.

Also, VB and Moss have done a good job of marketing their tube kits over the years: "Why rebuild those scary, old, alien lever shocks when you can have familiar, "safe" tube shocks instead?" That kinda junk works it's way into the brain.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Coming from a very uniformed pov... price. If getting both of my front shocks rebuilt cost less than $60. I would not consider tubes.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry, they're a bit more work than that. I sympathize, though.

[ QUOTE ]
Also, the playing with scrap bits of steal part is very appealing to me. I will always put labor into a project before money. Of course, usually I end up putting plenty of both in before all is said and done.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm all for that! You should see my house, and many Land Rovers. ('course ithink they are meant for that sort of thing)

[ QUOTE ]
I think the biggest reason most people consider tubes is that we gravitate toward what is familiar.

Also, VB and Moss have done a good job of marketing their tube kits over the years: "Why rebuild those scary, old, alien lever shocks when you can have familiar, "safe" tube shocks instead?" That kinda junk works it's way into the brain.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, that's too bad, and the image I'm trying to alleviate. levers are so much better in many ways. Oh well.

Thank you, though. Peter C.
 
Hi Peter,

Would you mind if I posed your same question in regards to lever shocks? I am interested in tube shocks for pretty much all of the above mentioned reasons, however, if you could illustrate why levers are so much better in many ways I would love to hear it.

I also, don't mean to pose that question in a critical way. I have zero knowledge of lever shocks and am curious as to why I should keep or rebuild mine.

Regards,
Joel
 
Hi again,

Just looked at your website and realized..."hey, I already have that website bookmarked!" I have been considering just purchasing lever shocks from your company to make things easier in terms of not having to fabricate anything on my own (not my strong point).

If I do buy levers, I've heard nothing but good things about your company. You'll get my business.

Joel
 
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