shock absorber fluid

Want to check out the shock absorbers fluid level on my 53 buick whilst I'm lowering it, my workshop manual simply refers to shock absorber fluid which I am not yet able to find anywhere but I found a reference to using automatic transmission fluid. Is this correct, can you use automatic transmission fluid in early shock absorbers?

Thanks for you help!

 

I was told by the company that rebuilds them to use hydraulic jack fluid in it. I had them in my old 55 Buick same reatarded lever shocks Buick just couldn't let go of old technology.

 

Seconding LSO, hydraulic jack fluid works in old Ford Houdaille shocks, too.

 

As I am a closet "teabagger" and like old British sporty type cars we used to run motor cycle fork oil in our lever arm shocks. You could change the shock rate by changing the weight of the oil. I think I used to run 20WT? Another solution is to just use your front shocks as upper a-arms and add mounts for more modern type tube shocks. I f I remember correctly the rears have funky link type thingys that have bushings in them which wear out like crazy too so look at those if your ride is suffering....

 

Thanks gentlemen

 

i'm willing to bet there going to leak like a sive. mine did!

 

I have heard of using the three suggestions stated above... hydraulic jack fluid, automatic transmission fluid, and motorcycle shock fluid. I haven't tried it yet, but Buick World in Washington state sells "shock oil" for $13 a quart. Their number is (360) 825-3787 if you want to try it.