you guys running friction shocks how well do they work ? is a gas shock leaps and bounds better ? how well do they ride ?
I have only had them on light cars like model T's & A's but they have always worked good on my cars... I used late 40's ford ones in the thinking that they were intended for heavier cars and had more dampning than a stock Model A shock would have. I dont know if this is true or not though.
Friction shocks are certainly quaint technology which hasn't been used in production vehicles since the late 40's most notably left over on British cars. They do certainly have a certain simplicity about them and can be an interesting part of a visible suspension system . Dry friction as used in wheel brakes, but using disks (classically made of leather) at the pivot of a lever, with friction forced by springs. Used in early automobiles such as the Ford Model T, up through some British cars of the 1940s. Although now considered obsolete, an advantage of this system is its mechanical simplicity; the degree of damping can be easily adjusted by tightening or loosening the screw clamping the disks, and it can be easily rebuilt with simple hand tools. A disadvantage is that the damping force tends not to increase with the speed of the vertical motion. Hydraulic shocks are better at damping fast vertical motions, and gas shocks further refine that by virtue of keeping bubbles from forming in the fluid keeping damping consistant. Saw a sprint car at the National Sprint car Hall of Fame that was set up with friction shocks, and the rear axle had them above and below the axle, in fact the uppers were a dual set up. They do look cool though these from the Speedway Motors cataloge
RUN RUN away from friction shocks.. That's why hydraulic shocks were invented. In the old days that was one of the first things changed.
I'm running friction shocks on all four corners made by Zipper that work as well as tube shocks. Instead of leather, I have some sort of plastic material that does not compact or shrink. Few if any guys running friction shocks take the time to play with the adjustments. I've run them on three cars with great results.
i have them in the front of my Tfor 40,000 miles, i replaced the thin rubber disc with some 1/8" urethan & they work great.They also have a nice appearance, they keep the "businest "down on the front end. If its a closed front end go with hydrolic shocks JimV
im thinking about running them on the front of my 28 roadster and i dont like the way the front is looking with tube shocks i dont have anthing else mounted that high the friction shocks could be mounted much lower but im planning on driving this car and want it to ride desent
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