rear shock picture; Surely this can't be right?

[Jimflorida]

I just put the rear shocks on my Bugeye that were in a parts box that came with the car. The right one is shown in this picture--the shock mounts to the body and the lever arm comes straight back, but then the connecting arm goes about 1 1/2" inwards to mate up with the mount. Both sides do this. Surely this isn't right, it couldn't hve been designed this way?? Jim

 

[mightymidget]

is the differential set at the ride position?

 

[Joel_McGinley]

Just looked at my Bugeye- at the bottom, the round end of the link should be toward the outside of the car. That stud passes through the hole on the axle assembly, with the nut on the inside. I think your lower links were turned around, then they were attached to the shock arm at the top and caused this problem. The lower link should be outside of both the shock arm and the axle bracket. Joel

 

[Jimflorida]

Well, that would explain a lot. I have to go back in the garage and look at this more closely. Jim

 

[Jimflorida]

Just checked the numbers off of these rear shocks, and they are for the later semi-elliptical spring Sprites. Buying a car in pieces is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you are going to get. Jim

 

[Trevor Jessie]

If you want rebuilt units, you should check with Peter at Worldwide Autoparts. He might take those as a core and sell you the correct units.

 

[histerical]

I think you might have the link on the wrong side of the spring bolt. I imagine that the shocks are the same dimensions, just valved differently.

 

[PeterC]

Jim and I have been talking directly.

FYI early and late shocks completely interchange except for the location of the fill plug (top on 1/4s, side on semi) and valving differences. (They are actually different piston sizes)

But, the links on 1/4 elliptic cars is U-shaped with both studs facing the same direction, whereas the semi-elliptic cars have a Z shape; studs pointing opposite.

Peter C

 

[Jimflorida]

Mystery solved. Got a lot of friendly and useful help from Peter C from World Wide Import Auto Parts on this. So the later Sprite rear shocks will work on my Bugeye; I just have to get the correct link rod. I'm not an engineer, but I knew the connecting rod shouldn't have been at that angle. Even for a British car. Jim