F15a shock absorbers

[Dave Schindel]

Thanks Rob and Tony.If they work,leave "em alone. Not something you want to try to rebuild unless you are desperate!

[rob love]

Actually, those Houdaille style don't look that bad. It is the double piston type as found on the Fords and the M135 GMCs that I was warned about.

[Jacques Reed]

Originally Posted by Dave Schindel

Thanks Rob and Tony.If they work,leave "em alone. Not something you want to try to rebuild unless you are desperate!

Hi Dave,

I agree with Rob and Tony wholeheartedly. If they move, just work them a bit, flush them out, and replace the hydraulic oil.

If they are frozen and you cannot find some that move then you may have to try to tear then down.

I recreated the pictures below of how I got mine apart after Frank Curcio removed the arms for me with his puller and heat. As I said in an earlier post referred to here, to do it again I would try to do it myself first. I didn't have an oxy set in 2004 when I had mine rebuilt however.

Before removing the arm mark the arm and the shaft to make sure you get it back on the correct spline. Some are factory marked with a chisel mark. A centre punch mark will also do the job.

I used a strap wrench to remove the cover. I made a tool to remove the inner ring from a piece of steel with three bolts 120 degreees apart. In actuality it came out quite easily but I was expecting the worst. Gentle persuasion with a brass drift on the notches may be all that is needed in hindsight. In any event a tool as heavy as the one I made is not necessary. Once that ring is out the rest should just pull apart easily if not frozen with rust.

Hope this may be of some help.

Cheers,

[Harlé Sylvain]

Hello
Is there a seal that can leak on the schaft, my one are all free but all empty of oil?

Cheers

[Jacques Reed]

Hello Harle,

Yes, there is a seal at the wingshaft. In the Spare Parts List it is listed as CO1TS 18043 "Packing- wingshaft".

I just checked my old samples and as per attached photo the original packing is on the left, and an "O"ring that was used as a substitute by the rebuilder is on the right.

After 13 years since being rebuilt, there has been no leakage at the shaft so the "O"ring seems to be a good substitute for the packing.

Cheers,

[Jacques Reed]

Good Day All,

Slight correction of the previous information:

After looking at a few more Houdaille shock absorbers I seem to remember now that all have the factory chisel mark for the correct location of the arm on the wingshaft.

I am reasonably sure that the centre punch mark shown in the photo is for the location of the indicator arm on the tension adjustment screw. I believe this is also done at the factory where the correct tension in the shock absorber is set on the bench.

I read that somewhere but cannot put my finger on it to confirm.

Cheers,

[Jacques Reed]

Originally Posted by Jacques Reed

Good Day All,

Slight correction of the previous information:

After looking at a few more Houdaille shock absorbers I seem to remember now that all have the factory chisel mark for the correct location of the arm on the wingshaft.

I am reasonably sure that the centre punch mark shown in the photo is for the location of the indicator arm on the tension adjustment screw. I believe this is also done at the factory where the correct tension in the shock absorber is set on the bench.

I read that somewhere but cannot put my finger on it to confirm.

Cheers,

As I often say "When everything else fails- read the instructions". See attached photo from Maintenance Manual.
Tension adjuster arm points to chisel mark as per Maintenance Manual. It is also in line with the centre punch mark as it turns out. Makes sense as you have to mark both the shaft and the arm for alignment.

Cheers,

[Harlé Sylvain]

Hello
Thank you Jacques , if a" o ring" can fit, that's cool , it will be easy to find, will try to fix them that way.

Regards
Sylvain