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Rear Shocks for 55 and 56 Dodges and Plymouths
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56D500boy
Posted 2019-04-29 1:52 AM (#581484)
Subject: Rear Shocks for 55 and 56 Dodges and Plymouths



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Based on 71charger_fan (Terrence D.) said about the shocks he installed on his 55 Savoy wagon, i.e.

71charger_fan - 2019-04-18 8:24 AM

The rear shocks are the same application as later A-body rears. I think they were 81469.


On that basis, I chased Gabriel 81469s at Rock Auto and then went back in and pretended my car was a 68 Dodge Dart 340 (which would be okay to have ) and got the result below.

Because of the terrible exchange rate (CDN to US$) and shipping I phoned around locally (Vancouver BC area). Lordco, Napa, Wescan and Canadian Tire. Lordco doesn't do Gabriels but they do Monroe and they list the 31131s but their price was high.

I tried Canadian Tire and then discovered something interesting: Canadian Tire lists them but didn't have any locally, so they phoned Lordco and got me a price that was much better than what Lordco offered. SO, I jumped on the Monroe 31131s and they were in the store two hours later. I picked them up the next day and installed them over the weekend.

I sprayed the nuts and the exposed threads on the mounting studs (the upper on the frame and bottom on the spring mount) with Moovit and let that soak for an hour or so. Then I used a long 3/4" box end to break the nuts loose (didn't take much effort). The new shocks didn't come with new mounting hardware (but at the price I paid, I can't complain), so I cleaned up and wire brushed the big shock washers and the nuts. Then I painted them with Tremclad Gloss Aluminum rust paint and let them dry (nice day). Installing the shocks was easy once I realized that I should clean off the non-threaded part of the mounting stud (with an abrasive pad (Scotchbrite)) and then sprayed some WD40 into the rubber mounts. That made the new shocks slip onto the mounting studs very easily. When the freshly painted washers and nuts dried (about an hour), I installed the washers and nuts. I noticed that the nuts had a built in lip/washer to slip on the big shock mount washer so I made sure to have that side of the nut in contact with the shock mount washer. After tightening the nuts by hand (to make sure that they weren't cross-threaded), I used a 3/4" ratcheting box end to snug the nuts down. I used the German spec, "Gutentight".

Now to finally do the front shocks. ("Front shocks for a Ford Aerostar RWD (not AWD) are a direct bolt in with NO modifications required. This makes the KYB number KG5460.") (At least they came with new hardware)

(Screen Shot - not a live link):






Edited by 56D500boy 2019-04-29 1:54 AM
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56D500boy
Posted 2021-03-06 6:53 PM (#609569 - in reply to #581484)
Subject: RE: Rear Shocks for 55 and 56 Dodges and Plymouths



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Okay. Just came back from a little run on the highway. Hit 75/80 mph indicated (probably high due to the transmission change). Fast enough.

I don't like my shocks. At those speeds the car kind of wallows through some of the highway bumps (especially in the cross-wind that existed during my drive).

I want to go to a heavier stiffer shock (and maybe helper (coil-over the shock) springs).

I will probably seek out something for a Chrysler but, anybody with a good suggestion, my ears are open.

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Powerflite
Posted 2021-03-06 10:45 PM (#609574 - in reply to #581484)
Subject: Re: Rear Shocks for 55 and 56 Dodges and Plymouths



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For the rear, I always use the Monroe load-adjusting shocks with helper springs - the last on your list there. I like them for how they handle the weight well with old rear springs, but I use them with new springs as well. The only issue with them is they come a little short so you can't extend your axle as far down to remove large tires as easily. But still, as long are you're not running 235 series tires on 7", you won't have an issue. Even then, you can get the tires off & on, but it takes a little finagling.

How did you like the minivan KYB shocks on the front? I use the '57 Chevy KYB's on the front and they work well.
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56D500boy
Posted 2021-03-06 11:17 PM (#609577 - in reply to #609574)
Subject: Re: Rear Shocks for 55 and 56 Dodges and Plymouths



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Thanks for the reply Nathan. I knew that you would know if nobody else did.

I was happy with the Ford Aerostar KYBs on the front, but now I don't know. I'll need to deal with the rears first and then make a new assessment about the fronts.

For the rears, are you talking these (?), MONROE 58496, Load Adjusting because they are looking good for me (I got the listing as being for a 1956 New Yorker):



Edited by 56D500boy 2021-03-06 11:18 PM




(Monroe58496LoadAdjustingShocks.jpg)



Attachments
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Attachments Monroe58496LoadAdjustingShocks.jpg (188KB - 271 downloads)
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Mopar1
Posted 2021-03-07 1:15 PM (#609605 - in reply to #609577)
Subject: Re: Rear Shocks for 55 and 56 Dodges and Plymouths



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used KYB KG5511 on the back of my '60 Plym, am thinking they work on all of the FL cars
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56D500boy
Posted 2021-03-07 11:21 PM (#609620 - in reply to #609605)
Subject: Re: Rear Shocks for 55 and 56 Dodges and Plymouths



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Thanks for the suggestions guys.

After considering the two main options that were presented, i.e. the Monro 58496 with the helper springs and the KYB KG5511s, I decided on the Monroe 58496s. I took advantage of Rock Auto's forum discount (5% off the item price) (but not shipping etc) and have ended up paying about US$76 (CDN$99.94) for delivery to my door (Fedex). I see now that Amazon had them too for about CDN $95 but the shipping/delivery time is longer. (I think that I'd rather deal with Rock Auto anyway). We'll see.

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.ca/Monroe-58496-Sensa-Trac-Adjusting-Absorber/dp/...



Edited by 56D500boy 2021-03-07 11:25 PM
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56D500boy
Posted 2021-03-10 4:40 PM (#609722 - in reply to #609620)
Subject: Re: Rear Shocks for 55 and 56 Dodges and Plymouths



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56D500boy - 2021-03-07 8:21 PM
After considering the two main options that were presented, i.e. the Monro 58496 with the helper springs and the KYB KG5511s, I decided on the Monroe 58496s. I took advantage of Rock Auto's forum discount (5% off the item price) (but not shipping etc) and have ended up paying about US$76 (CDN$99.94) for delivery to my door (Fedex). I see now that Amazon had them too for about CDN $95 but the shipping/delivery time is longer. (I think that I'd rather deal with Rock Auto anyway).


Ding Dong. Fedex here.

Wow. They didn't even send me a tracking number (until it came with the delivery notice). Purchased Sunday afternoon, delivered from the US to Canada, Fedex, no brokerage fees, in basically 3 days. I couldn't have done much better if the border was open for non-essential civilian traffic.

Now to put them on.

EDIT: Only got one on. I have to use a ratchet strap to compress the shock/spring assembly about 3 inches in order to install. Took a bit of time to figure out the logistics for that. The other one, tomorrow, will go faster.

I hope.





Edited by 56D500boy 2021-03-10 9:55 PM
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56D500boy
Posted 2021-03-11 9:43 PM (#609764 - in reply to #609722)
Subject: Re: Rear Shocks for 55 and 56 Dodges and Plymouths



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56D500boy - 2021-03-10 1:40 PM
EDIT: Only got one on. I have to use a ratchet strap to compress the shock/spring assembly about 3 inches in order to install. Took a bit of time to figure out the logistics for that. The other one, tomorrow, will go faster.
I hope.


It did go faster. With the car's rear tires already (from yesterday) sitting on 2.25" x 12" x 9.25" wooden blocks, I used the bumper jack to add another inch or two clearance. Then I marked the length of the blue shocks with a piece of masking tape and removed the shocks with a 3/4" ratcheting box end wrench and a BFH (rubber mallet). With that shock off, I arranged a rachet strap on the new shock and cranked it down to the required length (I compressed the blue shock by hand back to the tape mark and ratcheted the length of the compressed new shock accordingly.) Then I sprayed the rubber bushing (inside) with silicone lubricant and crawled back under the car and installed the new shock, top end first then the bottom. I had to shorten the shock by one click of the ratchet so I was pretty close to start with. Then I persuaded the shock onto the shock studs a bit more with the rubber mallet until there were enough threads showing to get the shock bushing washer on and the 3/4" (outside) nut started. Then I tightened things up with the 3/4" ratcheting box end. To release the ratcheting strap, I got out from under the car and let the car down on the bumper jack a couple of clicks. That was enough to take the tension out of the strap and allow it to be removed.

Issues: I might want to revise or protect the brake line from the distribution TEE to the left rear wheel. There is only about 1/4" between the line and the base of the shock spring.

Tomorrow I will finish up and get the car out of the garage for a photo of the AFTER. I took a BEFORE yesterday.

Today:



Edited by 56D500boy 2021-03-12 2:39 AM




(MONROE_58496Load AdjustingSpringShockCompressedForInstallation.jpg)



(MONROE_58496Load AdjustingSpringShockInstalledShowingClearanceToLeftRearBrakeLine.jpg)



Attachments
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Attachments MONROE_58496Load AdjustingSpringShockCompressedForInstallation.jpg (187KB - 264 downloads)
Attachments MONROE_58496Load AdjustingSpringShockInstalledShowingClearanceToLeftRearBrakeLine.jpg (161KB - 268 downloads)
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56D500boy
Posted 2021-03-12 7:01 PM (#609800 - in reply to #609764)
Subject: Re: Rear Shocks for 55 and 56 Dodges and Plymouths



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Location: Lower Mainland BC
56D500boy - 2021-03-11 6:43 PM
Tomorrow I will finish up and get the car out of the garage for a photo of the AFTER. I took a BEFORE yesterday.


Before and After: The rear is a bit higher. Maybe 3/4" or an 1" but not more. *IF* I was smart (which I wasn't), I could have measured from the pavement to the lip of the wheel well,
before and after and had a real number, not just a guess. (Duh).

Now for a test drive to see if the handling has improved.

PS: i) I protected that brake line from abrasion with a 4" piece of rubber fuel line, slit length-wise and put over the brake line tube.

ii) After spending two afternoons laying under the rear of the car, I am impressed with the lack of body rust, especially at the those lower fender lips where
dirt, slush, salt, etc. could have accumulated when this car was a daily driver for somebody earlier in its life.
I am going to protect those lips even more from future damage over the summer.

EDIT/UPDATE: Test drive showed that the new spring-assisted shocks eliminated a lot of the diagonal wallowing with the previous new shocks. In retrospect, I wonder why I thought rear shocks for a 340 equipped,
3223 lb, 1968 Dodge Dart (the Monroe 31131s) would work on a big old 3790 lb 56 Dodge Custom Royal 4 dr Sedan tank.



Edited by 56D500boy 2021-03-12 9:26 PM




(56Dodge_Before_WithMonroe31131RearShocks.jpg)



(56Dodge_After_WithMonroe58496RearShocks.jpg)



Attachments
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Attachments 56Dodge_Before_WithMonroe31131RearShocks.jpg (124KB - 261 downloads)
Attachments 56Dodge_After_WithMonroe58496RearShocks.jpg (123KB - 264 downloads)
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