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Hot Rods Thud

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by HOTRODPRIMER, Nov 1, 2017.

  1. HOTRODPRIMER
    Joined: Jan 3, 2003
    Posts: 64,593

    HOTRODPRIMER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Today while driving my old sedan to the shop I hit a pot hole and was actually shocked to hear a loud thud when the frame bottomed out on the axle,I pulled over thinking I had broken a shock or worse but everything looked OK.

    This has never happened in the past even with the grandkid's in the back seat,but it's been several years since anyone was in the back,only luggage rides there now.

    I built the car more than 20 years ago and the rear is suspended with coil-overs so I'm thinking the springs may be worn out.

    If I were to re-do the car I would go back with a transverse spring but that ain't in the cards,what's the thought to replacing the springs or is there a better coil over that has been made since the old TCI ones I used 2 decades ago? HRP
     
    Last edited: Nov 1, 2017
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  2. Unless you have a broken spring, or broken leaves in the spring, it is more likely that your shock has failed.
     
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  3. tfeverfred
    Joined: Nov 11, 2006
    Posts: 15,788

    tfeverfred
    Member Emeritus

    HRP, shock technology has gotten a LOT better in the last few years. Perhaps, if a shock has gone bad, some smart shopping with specifications of what you need is in order.
     
  4. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 15,656

    Bandit Billy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    QA-1. Without a doubt the best coil over I have ever used.
     
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  5. dana barlow
    Joined: May 30, 2006
    Posts: 5,416

    dana barlow
    Member
    from Miami Fla.

    Over 20 years,that pot hole many have got a bit deeper LOL,or the load in the driver seat could be a tiny more from a longer belt or something.
     
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  6. Danny a pot hole in S.C?I thought we got them up here in the winter if we got a little snow.LOL.Bruce.
     
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  7. HOTRODPRIMER
    Joined: Jan 3, 2003
    Posts: 64,593

    HOTRODPRIMER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Dana,that's cold but your right I do weigh more now than I did 20 years ago but the left rear was what dropped off in the tank trap. HRP
     
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  8. Rex_A_Lott
    Joined: Feb 5, 2007
    Posts: 1,158

    Rex_A_Lott
    Member

    I'd probably buy ones from Stock Car Products, Speedway or somebody like that that makes racing springs for coilover shocks. You can get them in about any rate you want them.
    I have a coil spring rate checker, if you want to bring one by and we can see what you have. You can go back with the same thing, or bring them up a bit. Good Luck.
     
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  9. 26hotrod
    Joined: Nov 28, 2009
    Posts: 1,141

    26hotrod
    Member
    from landis n c

    When I bought my coupe in '97 it had Spax coil overs that were GONE!!! I replaced them with VIPER coil overs from PETE&JAKES . They are still goin good............
     
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  10. partssaloon
    Joined: Jan 28, 2009
    Posts: 780

    partssaloon
    Member

    Totally agree with Billy, QA 1's are remarkable difference.
     
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  11. flt-blk
    Joined: Jun 25, 2002
    Posts: 4,941

    flt-blk
    Member
    from IL

    Also look to see if your bump stop is still there.
     
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  12. mad mikey
    Joined: Dec 22, 2013
    Posts: 9,393

    mad mikey
    Member

    Another vote for QA1s. They simply WORK.
     
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  13. rusty rocket
    Joined: Oct 30, 2011
    Posts: 5,251

    rusty rocket
    Member

    Id keep drivin the old heap with those shocks. If you bottom out a few times more then change them out. Maybe it was just a really big hole.
     
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  14. gnichols
    Joined: Mar 6, 2008
    Posts: 11,407

    gnichols
    Member
    from Tampa, FL

    Springs eventually sag, shocks never last a long time. Gary
     
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  15. Just Gary
    Joined: Oct 9, 2002
    Posts: 5,782

    Just Gary
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Christmas is coming.
    Maybe your beloved Mrs. HRP could sneak a pair of QA1s under the tree?;)
     
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  16. dana barlow
    Joined: May 30, 2006
    Posts: 5,416

    dana barlow
    Member
    from Miami Fla.

    Maybe I do just joke around more then I should,but that's me. Springs do get lower with time for real,had to adjust hights in race cars often. Checks on spring rate change happen {get softer}in less time then many think an need replacing in race car. For the street just adjusting up for ride hight is often enough.
     
  17. oldsjoe
    Joined: May 2, 2011
    Posts: 2,649

    oldsjoe
    Member

    Have a buddy with an OT Pro street type 4 link set up. Cheaped out on the original build shocks and springs. Didn't last 3 years, went back with QA1s after talking to their great tech line and the car never rode or handled better. Not saying your originals were cheap 20 years is great miles to the dollar! Technology has improved almost everything HRP, tires, shocks, electronics, tools you name it. Take a close look and you'll be presently surprised. Except for the cost that is. Joe
     
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  18. HOTRODPRIMER
    Joined: Jan 3, 2003
    Posts: 64,593

    HOTRODPRIMER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    No problem Dana,I know you were jerking my chain,my old shocks are like the early Jag type and are none adjustable. HRP
     
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  19. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 15,200

    Budget36
    Member

    Short answer is there are better shocks now than there were 20 years ago, I'm sure you know that.

    But real question is, "do you know what caused the thud"?

    And if not, why think about upgrading the shocks?
     
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  20. The Moredoor runs QA1's on it. They also make different spring rates and stiffness levels.

    I'd give Speedway or Summit a call and talk to a tech.
     
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  21. HOTRODPRIMER
    Joined: Jan 3, 2003
    Posts: 64,593

    HOTRODPRIMER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    About 10 years ago we installed the QA-1 shocks on a '53 Ford pick-up,I don't know the coil spring rate but I remember the shocks had a adjustable valve and at one point we set it and 3 of us stood on the frame and it barely moved we then positioned the valve as far as it would go in the opposite and one person standing on the frame could make the frame bottom out.

    I was amazed and yeah they are expensive. HRP
     
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  22. Dean Lowe
    Joined: May 20, 2008
    Posts: 22,029

    Dean Lowe
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Been running these adjustable Aldan coil overs for nearly 18 years. Gave them the weight of the car, they selected the springs, and compression/rebound dampening, and they have worked perfectly. I did dial the valve up one click from the factory setting after a test ride. Great people to work with.

    [​IMG]
     
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  23. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 22,129

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    QA1
    Got them on all three of mine Danny.

    20170326_094304.jpg

     
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  24. bobss396
    Joined: Aug 27, 2008
    Posts: 18,687

    bobss396
    Member

    With my stock-ish '59 Ford suspension, I've whacked some pot holes that have rattled my fillings. Definitely hit the snubbers hard. Shocks are new, rear springs new, stock front springs less 1 coil. Avoid those big pot holes is my best advice.
     
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  25. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 15,656

    Bandit Billy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    They make an interior mounted switch now that controls the dual dampening on the shocks. I sent them my old shocks off the 442 and they retrofitted them with the air control switch so you can make adjustments form the drivers seat.
     
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  26. czuch
    Joined: Sep 23, 2008
    Posts: 2,688

    czuch
    Member
    from vail az

    Pot holes are bad news.
    Here in Tucson we drive like a road course avoiding them.
    Cant tell if some fool is texting or missing the pit.
     
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  27. Kerrynzl
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 3,593

    Kerrynzl
    Member

    Springs do not "wear out". they have the same stiffness throughout their life. They either break which would be obvious, or over zillions of cycles they slowly lose their "set".

    If car is sitting lower, just pull them out and get them re-set .
     
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  28. Blue One
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 11,506

    Blue One
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Alberta

    That sounds good in theory, but in practice it just isn't true.
    Spring steel does get fatigued with age and use so even if you attempt to "reset " it, it will quickly return to the fatigued condition.
    The only way to restore it is to repeat the original heat treatment and at that point you might as well go with new spring steel.
     
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  29. Kerrynzl
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 3,593

    Kerrynzl
    Member

    It is good in theory AND in practice.
    The fatigue you are mentioning is the spring steel losing it's set.

    Cold setting is the best way to re-set the springs [blacksmiths called this "cold bulldozing"]
    What you're basically doing is "Controlled Bending" of the steel beyond the point of yield.iea

    I have pulled f***ed old springs out of a high mileage car where one side has completely sagged ,and measured the stiffness from L to R.[before resetting them]
    The results have always been consistent.

    Professional spring shops prefer to use heat resetting [which is at lower temps than most people think] because it is less time consuming and less skilled when doing volume. They can use an LPG oven
     
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  30. HOTRODPRIMER
    Joined: Jan 3, 2003
    Posts: 64,593

    HOTRODPRIMER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    We are talking about coil over springs,not leaf springs. HRP
     
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