Bent shock mounts?

[skyclad]

Are these shock mounts bent or is this how they are supposed to be?

The backstory....
After the shell-off renovation of my 1962 safari, when putting the aluminum wheel covers back on, they no longer fit. The tip of the shock mount was about 1 1/4” out of vertical, towards the interior, on both sides. There was nothing that banged into the frame at any point during the restoration. And there were no marks on the inside of the old wheel wells indicating rubbing between them and the shock mounts. The deflection of the shock mounts was significant enough that I had to cut flaps in the aluminum wheel wells so that they could fit back on.

I’m currently making new wheel wells and have the opportunity to adjust the mount alignment, but don’t want to mess up the engineering of the suspension.

Does anyone know if these mounts look like standard issue? Anyone have pics of their early 60’s shock mounts to share?

Thanks for your help!

[Action]

That shock mount can be bent by you for installation and/or removal of the shock.

The fact that it is bent now should not be an issue.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

[skyclad]

Originally Posted by Action

That shock mount can be bent by you for installation and/or removal of the shock.

The fact that it is bent now should not be an issue.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

Thanks for your reply, Action. I’m not sure I understand though.

Are you saying the mount looks deformed to you? Or does it look like the factory setup?

Are you saying that bending the shock mount will have no effect of the suspension? What is your experience with this?

[Action]

The unit is almost 60 years old. I am not experienced with units built in 1962. It doesn't look to bad and you would want the mount to be as vertical as possible. I had a '66 that I had to bend the mount to remove and install the replacement shock. If you want to bend the mount some so it has less of a inboard cant it is OK to do so.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

[SteveSueMac]

I'm no engineer and not qualified to offer an opinion. I do have a question though - you say both mounts moved inward? Is it possible that with the weight of the shell off the frame and the disconnection of skins to frame, the alignment of the shock mounts just pushed inward? Would it come back into alignment when all is reconnected?

Please re-read caveat at the beginning of this. They say there's no such thing as a dumb question - which itself is a dumb statement [emoji3]

[skyclad]

Originally Posted by SteveSueMac

I'm no engineer and not qualified to offer an opinion. I do have a question though - you say both mounts moved inward? Is it possible that with the weight of the shell off the frame and the disconnection of skins to frame, the alignment of the shock mounts just pushed inward? Would it come back into alignment when all is reconnected?

Please re-read caveat at the beginning of this. They say there's no such thing as a dumb question - which itself is a dumb statement [emoji3]

Thanks for weighing in (bad pun unintentional). Your thought is a good one but unfortunately the problem persists even when everything is back together. This is a real head scratcher. I have no idea how the mounts could have shifted so much without any force being put on them.

[ROBERT CROSS]

They do appear straight here....

Bob
🇱🇷

[skyclad]

thanks for the pic. it looks like your mounts are attached to the axil? i'm trying to figure out the alignment of my top mounts which are attached to the frame.

or am i misreading you pic?

[David F]

They are bent. Bend them back to vertical. I had to do the same when I replaced the axle on my '67 Caravel.

[ROBERT CROSS]

No mis-reading...your mount is attached differently, but I believe, as noted above, your plate is bent. Straighten, make sure you maintain tire clearance . 👍

Bob
🇱🇷

[skyclad]

thanks for all the thoughts. my hesitation is that on both sides the top of the mount and the bottom of the mount look parallel (see pics below). this seems too consistent to be coincidental. if they were bent out of shape i wouldn't expect this.

David F, do you have pics of before and after you mount fix?

Robert Cross, did you post something about clearance? i saw it on my app, but then can't find it in this thread.

[HiHoAgRV]

My '63's mounts are straight up.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f109...tml#post956772

[skyclad]

Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV

My '63's mounts are straight up.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f109...tml#post956772

ok thanks for the feedback!

[skyclad]

out of curiosity, what do your '61 mounts look like? straight? or bent?

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by skyclad

SNIP

Robert Cross, did you post something about clearance? i saw it on my app, but then can't find it in this thread.

Yes I changed it a bit on edit.... You'll notice that your plate is bent at the bottom where it's welded to the frame and again at the top shock mount. So if you do straighten the plate I would do nothing with the angle at the top shock mount, that looks to have been done during manufacture. If you do straighten..consider welding a 1" flat on each edge, 90* angle=stronger.

Bob
🇱🇷

[Action]

Originally Posted by David F

They are bent. Bend them back to vertical. I had to do the same when I replaced the axle on my '67 Caravel.

skyclad,
I believe you are over thinking this a bit.
With out the benefit of speaking to the last person that worked on the shocks or access to the 50 year chain of ownership all we can say is they are what they are. Don't assume any significance.

In the word called perfect they would not bend to either side.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

[skyclad]

Originally Posted by Action

skyclad,
I believe you are over thinking this a bit.
With out the benefit of speaking to the last person that worked on the shocks or access to the 50 year chain of ownership all we can say is they are what they are. Don't assume any significance.

In the word called perfect they would not bend to either side.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

Guilty as charged I’m sure!

[skyclad]

Originally Posted by skyclad

Guilty as charged I’m sure!

Went ahead and had my mounts straightened. Ended up welding a c channel to the outside of the mounts. Hoping this will be sufficient but could add more stiffening material if needed.

[Action]

One thing you might want to verify.

That is removal and installation of the shock after the body is reinstalled. It is far easier to install shocks with out the coach attached. It may be more difficult (or not possible) to do so with the trailer re-assembled.

I state this as I have known some to post that they had to bend the shock mount to get the old shock off and new one reinstalled.

Painting one's self in a corner isn't pleasant. Trust me I have been there.

>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

[skyclad]

Originally Posted by Action

One thing you might want to verify.

...

Painting one's self in a corner isn't pleasant. Trust me I have been there.

>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

thanks Action. I will definitely be remounting the shocks before putting the new wheel wells and flooring on.