Shocks/Front Wheel

[Michael Echemann]

Last month I posted a note about how my right front wheel at Holland started
to bounce up and down while traveling about 40mph. It's not done it since
however I did have some weird creeks etc afterwards. Yesterday I took off
the pan and all the steering linkages were clean, tight and appear to be as
new. I went ahead and replaced both wheel bearings on the front right and
repacked the hub. Then I installed a set of new Alden front shocks I'd
purchased from Gordon's a year or two ago. The old shocks never gave me any
problems but I felt I may as well put the new ones on. The car took the
bolt on from the wheel well type on top not the stem through the fender so
they came pre installed with new springs .

Has anyone had problems with these? Once installed in the garage the cars
front end was much more bouncy while the old ones simply came back up once
and stopped as they should. The new ones also had a rakish up and down
sound almost like the stems were rusty and rubbing which they were not.
Finally I drove the car and they provide a more bouncy ride and don't seem
to bottom out easily but they sure do "top out" easily. Simply going over a
manhole cover causes a clank which if obviously the shock reaching full
extension. Has anyone experienced this?

When the Aldan's first came out some reports suggested this however lately
I've heard nothing but great things about these shocks. I'd be curious to
here from others as to how they like them and specifically from anyone who
has installed the front early shocks with springs pre installed and bolt on
tops. I noticed each shock has two adjusting valves. On top it's a knob
and on the bottom it's a small inset screw. Don't the current Aldan's just
have one knob on top for adjustments? Has anyone played with these
adjustments with success? My old ones had no leaks and worked fine so I'm I
cannot get these corrected I'll be reinstalling them.

Returning to the wheel bouncing issue: I can't seem to find a cause so I'll
inspect the tire which is fairly new. I had a small bit of play in the tire
when I rocked it at 6 and 12 o'clock and after changing the bearings it was
still there. The car seems to run ok and I've not been able to duplicate
the wheel bounce situation again. It only happened that one time but it
sure was hairy for a second or two.

Mike

 

[tommyintpa@aol.com]

Time, echemike@sbcglobal.net writes:
Hi Mike,

> Last month I posted a note about how my right front wheel at Holland
> started
> to bounce up and down while traveling about 40mph. It's not done it
> since...

Could you have had some mud or sand packed to the inside of your wheel, it
may have "slung "out at speed. That would explain the single occurrence.

I went ahead and replaced both wheel bearings on the front right and repacked
the hub...

If the bearings were still together at all they're probably not the
culprit.

Then I installed a set of new Alden front shocks ...
The old shocks never gave me any problems but I felt I may as well put the
new ones ... they> came pre installed with new springs. Has anyone had
> problems with these?

Mine seem hard as a rock, like you're sitting on the springs and they are so
hard the shocks don't get much chance to move.

Once installed in the garage the cars > front end was much more bouncy while
> the old ones simply came back up once and stopped as they should.
> Finally I drove the car and they provide a more bouncy ride and don't seem
> to bottom out easily but they sure do "top out" easily. Simply going over a
> manhole cover causes a clank which if obviously the shock reaching full
> extension. Has anyone experienced this?

Mine seem to sit on the springs at almost the top of their travel.
Did you give it a high speed test, does it handle as good as it did before?

> I noticed each shock has two adjusting valves. On top it's a knob
> and on the bottom it's a small inset screw. Don't the current Aldan's just
> have one knob on top for adjustments? Has anyone played with these
> adjustments with success?

I have mine set as soft as they go but I cannot tell any difference between
the hardest and the softest setting.

> My old ones had no leaks and worked fine so I'm I
> cannot get these corrected I'll be reinstalling them.

Turn them upside down, if they don't leak they are probably OK

>
> Returning to the wheel bouncing issue: I can't seem to find a cause so I'll
> inspect the tire which is fairly new.

The wheel bounce was definitely a balance issue

I had a small bit of play in the tire > when I rocked it at 6 and 12 o'clock
> and after changing the bearings it was still there.

That sounds like a king pin with a little wear. Keep it full of grease
and it will be a little less sloppy.
It could also be the bolt that clamps the wheel assembly to the axle.

The car seems to run OK and I've not been able to duplicate > the wheel
> bounce situation again. It only happened that one time but it sure was hairy
for
> a second or two.

Dune buggy guys experience this when wet sand gets packed into the
inside of the rim. It will really shake the steering wheel in your hand too.
>
> Mike
>
Good luck - Tommy in Tampa


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