DeTomaso Mailing List: October 97, Message #123
     



From: 	DtomasoCat@aol.com

Subject: Shocking question!

Date: 	Sun, 5 Oct 1997 21:25:28 +0000



To All,



I am currently working on two Panteras.  My '71 and a '72 Pre-L.  I have both

of the rear suspensions completely removed as I am replaceing suspension

bushings and generally going thru things.  I decided to do some detailing on

the shocks on both cars and removed the coil springs.  When I pulled the

shocks out of the coil, I found that they were both original equipment shocks

on both cars.  



My car as 85,000 miles on it and the other car has 25,000.  I pretty much

figured that my shocks were probably long gone and thought I was right when I

did the following test.  I compressed the shock by pushing down on it and

found it collapsed with almost no "tension" at all.  I then tried pulling it

apart and found it had lots of tension.  In fact it was difficult to get it

apart.  I then tried collapsing it again and it just compressed with very

little resistance (if any).



I then tried the same proceedure with the shocks off of the 25,000 mile car.

 I figured they would be much better than mine.  Dead wrong.  They were

exactly the same.  Tension when you pulled the shock apart, no tension when

you compressed it.



In fact, neither of the shocks would push themselves back out once

compressed.  I am much more familiar with gas shocks which will "rebound"

back and extend the shock completely when compressed.  These original shocks

will not do that, but should they?  The original equipment shocks are air

shocks, aren't they?  Do they operate differently?



What I am trying to figure out is if each of the cars need new shocks or

what?  How can I tell if the shocks are bad?  With the coil spring tension on

the shock, wouldn't it make a bad shock work just fine?



I have driven my car for over 35,000 miles with the original shocks and never

had any weird tire wear or similar problems associated with bad shocks.  I

know that I have a weak spring on the left rear, due to a slight "sag" in the

car on that side.  I am planning to replace the springs on my car, but if the

shocks are OK, I don't want to have to spend money where I don't need to

(especially with the price of Pantera shocks these days!)



Can you help me?



Jim Demick