'59 Plymouth Forum

My 361 convertible needs new shocks all around. Any recommendations?

hello again, I am the "guest"..Roger

Kanter's for most if not all the suspension parts:

http://www.kanter.com/

Kanter's reputation is much better than that of Kepich Exhaust, whose customer service record is suspect at this time.

Roger -- I said I didn't buy my shocks yet for the '59, but I forgot that I did just what MrTester suggested when I had my '55 -- I bought shocks from Kanter. I was quite pleased with them.

Dan

if anybody is listening, I tried Kanter.com..
They are very generic about shock absorbers..$120 for a set of four, yet they dont even ask what car I have...I am not trusting of that, so I will try Napa and some other local auto parts stores.

Roger

I bought some shock absorbers a couple of years ago (from JC-Whitney). I was not satisfied with the suspension performance of these shocks. Anyhow, it is not the fault of JC-Whitney or Napa or any other Parts Shop, that the people just want what looks nice and shiny in the catalog and what’s cheap. In the next spring I’ll get me a set of adjustable shocks from “Spax” and I’ll buy that from a specialist who can give a correct information about the pressure when compressing and decompressing. “Spax” has the advantage that you can adjust the shock while it is installed. “Koni” or a good “Monroe” is also possible but you have to remove the shock always if you want to readjust. Whatever you do you are better served with a good brand. Even if it costs the double – it would be worth it. That’s the lesson I learned! If you won’t spent as much I suggest for at least the heavy duty shocks.

Stefan

I agree with everything you wrote. I will go for the best quality brand..Thanks.

Roger,

I forgot to mention why it is necessary to mount good (heavy duty) shocks on our cars.
For safety and comfort reasons modern cars mostly have for every single wheel a separate hanger system to the chassis. These systems are made to achieve a good handling and reduce the weight of the “not damped mass” (I hope I fount the right words for it). Sometimes the whole hangers, axles and even the rims are even made out of light alloy.
On our Plymouth’s this mass is very heavy, especially the rear axle is a massive piece of iron. To damp this mass we need a shock that can handle that mass. Not the weight of the car tells you what shock you need but the weight of the “not damped mass” (I hope you know what I mean, but if anybody knows the right expression for it, please correct me!)

Stefan

Roger - Just checked my folder - in May of 2001 I purchased 4 shocks from a local "Fleet Farm" in town. Brand was Gabriels. Front shocks cost $22.99 ea. and rears $10.89 ea. Car rides good. Just checked Autozone website. They list Gabriels @ $12.99 ea. for front and rear (lifetime warranty). They also have available for rear - "Hi-Jacker" air adjustable shocks @ $59.99 ea. (2yr warranty). John Z.

John and all,
Thanks for the input. Today I committed to purchase (pre-paid for) a pair of rear shocks (that's all they had listed for our crs??)..the brand is KBY, or something close to that.. and the price is $27~each. I of course will want to get a pair of front shocks at some point. This particular chain store only carried KBY, and it was Sunday and I didnt have a lot of time to shop around. I will let everyone know how it all turns out.

Roger has an update on his "shocking" debacle:

Roger wrote:My car's rear shocks are non-functional. I wnet to the auto parts store and they sold me on a pair of KYB gas shocks...($28/each). Please see pictures attached.
The new shocks have a sleeve/ bushing at the top mount which will not fit over the original frame studs. These sleeves do not appear to be removeable. I guess it is back to the auto parts store...sigh. Again I ask, if anybody out there has replaced their rear shocks, please let me know what fits!

I purchased a set of four shocks from Andy Bernbaum back in 2000. www.oldmoparts.com and they fit and work very well. His price today for our cars is $32.50 each or a set of four $115.
Tom

Tom Fox bought his shocks through Bernbaum, . Bernbaum's shocks are generic, i guess, but if they work for Tom, they will work for me.

Several months ago I ordered my shocks from Rockauto.com for my 59 Sport Fury. They have an extensive online catalog, click on Plymouth, and then 1959, then chose your model and engine. All of the catagories of parts available for the car and motor will be listed. Under suspension you will find the available shock absorbers. They do not carry front shocks for 59 Plymouths, so I ordered the front shocks that fit my 65 Sport Fury, which still had the same shock tower as the 57-59s. Those shocks are Monroe 5811. You will have to trim the spacer on the bottom of the shock to fit the bracket on the lower control arm of any 57 to 59. For the rear, I ordered Monroe 58496 coil over shocks and they were an exact fit for my 59 Sport Fury; these come in a 2 pack and they include adapters to fit several other Mopars, but toss those. Rockauto.com does have KYB rear shocks for the 59's and you can use the 65 front KYB's.

I've gone ahead and ordered a set of four shocks from Andy Bernbaum.
Total cost was $115. Should arrive in one week. While the rear shocks are off, I tried bouncing the rear of the car...still very little movement. I will get the floor-to-wheel-well measurements and see if the car sits higher than typical..
roger