Front Shock absorbers

[Clance]

Hi Guys n Gals, well it's been a while since I've posted a question but now after having driven the Mover from Tassie to Mackay and settled in, I have finally done a shake down on what broke and what didn't on the trip up! I'm going to write an article outlining the whole trip for you all as there are quite a few odd things that happened. Anyway back to the problem of the moment!

After crawling around under the mover for about an hour I made it up to the front end only to notice my Shockies! I but brand new HD Munroe GT gassies in before I left but after the scrutineering I found one has busted the bottom pin clean off and the other has stripped all the thread of and is virtually free floating!!!!

So my questions are
a:- has this happend to anyone else?
b:- what could be the problem
c:- what sort of front shocks are you all running?

p.s. I am running a 350 chev & T400.

Cheers,
Clance   

[Worzel]

the bottom shock mounts can be a pain in the rear.
I had one shock snap because it had been put in wrong, and the brackets wear out eventually.

" I found one has busted the bottom pin clean off and the other has stripped all the thread of and is virtually free floating!!!! "

I take it that it is the shocks not the brackets that are stuffed which is a bit weird but i'd remove the bottom brackets and inspect them,

they are made to allow a bit of movement, and if reassembled wrong then the bottom of the shock is stressed.

the brackets can be reconditioned if the studs have snapped off  buy drilling the stud out and tack welding a similar bolt in place.

Basically don't allow anybody else to fix your bedford unless you know that they are not an idiot







 

[eddy]

hey Clance, how far is the drive from Melbourne to MacKay and how long did it take you, I am heading that way next week looking like leaving Melb on Wednesday to pick up a 21 ft tandem caravan, coming up in the Vs stationwagon so may bump into you if your at one of the local caravan parks 

[BlackBedford]

G'day

Years ago somebody was making a steel ring with two threads cut into it. The ring was welded into the bottom wishbone and a HQ style shock could be installed. HQ shocks have a round bottom connector.
The main problem was that the shock didn't fit through the ring so the front end had to be dismantled to install it.
I had a ring given to me but I have lost it. I plan on finding it and probably will.

[John Abbott]

Hi Clance....Funny you should post this topic because, i found that the drivers side shock has lost the nut that holds it into the bottom bracket. So tomorrow i will have to jackup the truck and inspect it.While i have the shock out i will see if i can get some part numbers off it for you.
Cheers....Johnno

[Clance]

Hi guys, thanks. I put the front end back together myself and consulted the manual so I reckon it all went together correctly. I also reconditioned the bottom brackets so miss assembly isn't the prob.
I just have a funny feeking that the shocks aren't long enough or something even thou they are the correct part number Munroe GT 15-0162 to suit bedford! I'm getting new ones under warranty and will see what happens.
Eddy, I'd allow at least 3 days 1 to SYD, 1 to Bris and 1 to Mackay, I'm parked up at a mates shed about 18ks from mackay near the beach. Give me a call on 0413 621 222 and come to the local pub for a feed.
johnno, i'm looking forward to finding out what you suss out with you front shock! let us all know please.
Cheers and Happy new year,
Clance

[ben]

yeh ive gone through about 4 or 5 lower shocker mounts.. i have all the broken ones in a pile to fix up one day lol.

ive also seen big washers used the right size of course to replace the shocker mounts.. seemed to work ok.. probably not quite as good thou.. was a heck of a lot easier to change shockers thou!

ben

[John Abbott]

Hi Clance....Yep the bottom pin on the front shock has sheared off. But there is just enough of the pin to weld on another bolt onto the end of it. I have taken some picks of it and will post them up hopefully tomorrow. The brand of shockie is exactly the same as yours Clance.
cheers.....Johnno

[Merlin]

Hey johnno careful welding ya shocky it might be a gas unit and would be like welding a grenade        Cheers neil

[John Abbott]

Thanks for the heads up Neil....I will be careful... cheers...johnno