Aldan Front Shocks For Amphi

[Mike Israel]

Hi All,

There have been quite a few reports that the
replacement front Aldan shocks (nitrogen gas charged)
produce some scary sounding thinks and clunks from the
front of amphicar. One theory is that the shocks are
simply too stiff for the Amphi. This problem is said
to occur only with the fronts.

Someone suggested that a possbile fix would be to send
the shocks back to Aldan and ask them to release the
nitrogen gas charge. Source of this idea, whose
identity I shall protect, also indicates that you
should not try this at home as the high pressure will
also release all of the oil. The folks at Aldan are
said to be very helpful.

Question is, has any one tried having the gas charge
released to resolve the thunking/clunking problem?
Have there been any alternate solutions identified? I
have my own front Aldans sitting on a shelf since I
have heard of the problems and am hesitant to install
until resolved.

Regards,

Mike I.

 

[Roger]

Mike,

While I have not tried releasing the gas from these shocks, I don't
think it will help.

The gas charge in a shock does not make it stiffer (at least not under
normal moderate driving conditions). The gas pressure helps prevent
cavitating and keep the oil from foaming under heavy-use conditions.
Foaming would reduce the shock stiffness, but I doubt it would occur
unless you drive fast on very bumpy roads.

The valving in the shock and the oil viscosity are really the only
factors that control stiffness. While the oil viscosity changes with
temperature, pressure will not significantly change it. And the
pressure is unlikely to have any effect on the valving in the shock.

Has anyone checked with Aldan to see if lower damping rates are
available? If they make the shock body then they control the stiffness.

Roger
White '63
Seattle

Mike Israel wrote:

>Hi All,
>
>There have been quite a few reports that the
>replacement front Aldan shocks (nitrogen gas charged)
>produce some scary sounding thinks and clunks from the
>front of amphicar. One theory is that the shocks are
>simply too stiff for the Amphi. This problem is said
>to occur only with the fronts.
>
>Someone suggested that a possbile fix would be to send
>the shocks back to Aldan and ask them to release the
>nitrogen gas charge. Source of this idea, whose
>identity I shall protect, also indicates that you
>should not try this at home as the high pressure will
>also release all of the oil. The folks at Aldan are
>said to be very helpful.
>
>Question is, has any one tried having the gas charge
>released to resolve the thunking/clunking problem?
>Have there been any alternate solutions identified? I
>have my own front Aldans sitting on a shelf since I
>have heard of the problems and am hesitant to install
>until resolved.
>
>Regards,
>
>Mike I.
>
>
>

 

[John Friese]

Hello Mike,

I found that setting the adjusting ring so that the threads just
barely come past the ring pretty much resolved the problem for me.
That's a lower setting the Hugh originally called for and it would
seem lower than the original shock length but the car sits at the
right level and the noises are virtually gone.

John Friese

67 White (original shocks)
67 Red (Alden shocks)



--- In amphicar-lovers@yahoogroups.com, Mike Israel
<amphicar770@y...> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> There have been quite a few reports that the
> replacement front Aldan shocks (nitrogen gas charged)
> produce some scary sounding thinks and clunks from the
> front of amphicar. One theory is that the shocks are
> simply too stiff for the Amphi. This problem is said
> to occur only with the fronts.
>
> Someone suggested that a possbile fix would be to send
> the shocks back to Aldan and ask them to release the
> nitrogen gas charge. Source of this idea, whose
> identity I shall protect, also indicates that you
> should not try this at home as the high pressure will
> also release all of the oil. The folks at Aldan are
> said to be very helpful.
>
> Question is, has any one tried having the gas charge
> released to resolve the thunking/clunking problem?
> Have there been any alternate solutions identified? I
> have my own front Aldans sitting on a shelf since I
> have heard of the problems and am hesitant to install
> until resolved.
>
> Regards,
>
> Mike I.

 

[Larry & Nancy Solheim]

As I went through my problems w/ the shocks, Robert at Aldan offered to make up new front springs that would better match the shocks to the car. Didn't know enough to follow up on that through. Also had the "banging" problem with the rears, tho mine were very early (1999 or so) in the Aldan Amphicar supply cycle..

--Larry

ike Israel <amphicar770@yahoo.com> wrote:
<blockquote class="replbq" style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid"><tt>Hi All,

There have been quite a few reports that the
replacement front Aldan shocks (nitrogen gas charged)
produce some scary sounding thinks and clunks from the
front of amphicar. One theory is that the shocks are
simply too stiff for the Amphi. This problem is said
to occur only with the fronts.

Someone suggested that a possbile fix would be to send
the shocks back to Aldan and ask them to release the
nitrogen gas charge. Source of this idea, whose
identity I shall protect, also indicates that you
should not try this at home as the high pressure will
also release all of the oil. The folks at Aldan are
said to be very helpful.

Question is, has any one tried having the gas charge
released to resolve the thunking/clunking problem?
Have there been any alternate solutions identified?
I
have my own front Aldans sitting on a shelf since I
have heard of the problems and am hesitant to install
until resolved.

Regards,

Mike I.

</tt>

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[Mark Richardson]

Hey John,

Reviving a 15 year old thread as I know you visit from time to time and I have this banging problem related to the Aldan shocks.
Can you post a picture of what you are talking about for the threads showing for a setting for these please?

Also, does turning the knob on the shock actually help and if so, where should it be set?

Thanks very much!

Mark R

I found that setting the adjusting ring so that the threads just
barely come past the ring pretty much resolved the problem for me.
That's a lower setting the Hugh originally called for and it would
seem lower than the original shock length but the car sits at the
right level and the noises are virtually gone.

John Friese

67 White (original shocks)
67 Red (Alden shocks)

 

[jfriese]

Hello Mark,

Things on the internet last forever but some details don't last forever in my memory. I know that Aldan changed the late style front shock they sold through Gordon's sometime between the 3 cars I restored between 2002 and 2009. A post 15 years ago would almost certainly relate to the earlier shock style I ran into when doing the first two cars. Sorry, but those details are lost to time. I believe that both my cars are running the earlier shock style that was being sold around 2002. The adjusting rings were supposed to change the stiffness of the shock but I think would have little affect on what you're dealing with.

John Friese

67 White
67 Red

 

[Mark Richardson]

John,

I completely understand. My Aldans were surely the first ones Gordon ever sold as my car was done in 1998 with them installed and always banging.
I will call Gordon's to see what they recommend, but as I looked at mine the ring was screwed down to the bottom of the shock. The setting in front was #4 pointing down. Not sure about that or if it will make a difference to turn that setting wheel. May just have to live with it.

Thanks for the note,

Mark

By the way, my brakes work great after switching the backing plates and new cylinders! Thanks to Gord as well for the front shoes!

 

[jfriese]

John,

I completely understand. My Aldans were surely the first ones Gordon ever sold as my car was done in 1998 with them installed and always banging.
I will call Gordon's to see what they recommend, but as I looked at mine the ring was screwed down to the bottom of the shock. The setting in front was #4 pointing down. Not sure about that or if it will make a difference to turn that setting wheel. May just have to live with it.

Thanks for the note,

Mark

By the way, my brakes work great after switching the backing plates and new cylinders! Thanks to Gord as well for the front shoes!

 

[jfriese]

Hi Mark,

By the time I restored someones car in 2009 Alden had recently switched to a whole different base shock that really didn't fit the Amphicar. I ended up cutting a Ford motor mount in half to use as a spacer to get the ride height correct. I think I still have the mounts number if you run into that. All of this was long before Gorgons came up with their shocks.

I'm embarrassed to admit how long it took me to figure out that "switched backing plate" issue. I spent years and lots of dollars replacing most everything, and here the problem was essentially staring me the face. I had just done something to the front wheel of my car with the good brakes and quickly switched cars. I remember staring at the routing of the brake line behind the drum and suddenly I saw the difference. Strange too because I certainly knew how those brakes applied their pressure.

Enjoy,

John Friese
67 White
67 Red

 

[SNOWBIRD]

I now make a front shock for late65-7) cars. I reuse the spring and collars and use a Gabrial load leveler shock. BUT Can't get it in Canada at a decent price so Have to wait till Borders open up again. Looks exactly like an Original.

 

[Mark Richardson]

Gord,

This is really good news! I think you will do well with those late through hull shocks once you get your supply line set up at a decent price.
Maybe you would be willing to trade for a gently used set of the Aldans? haha

I contacted Scott at Gordon's and he said the fix was to not tighten the bottom adjustment plate too high and to set on lowest setting.
I have done both but still have banging, so nothing more to do for me and possibly many others. Now at least there is hope for a replacement shock that is quiet and fits.

Thanks Gord! Keep us posted on availability & possible pricing.