RCD Projects

This page is to show common shock related problems we in counter on vehicles, hoping to help you avoid getting into the same situation. Names will be with held to protect the Guilty.

Horrible picture, I know. Customer complained about a rattle in the front of his Mustang II suspension.

Late model lowered Chevy truck. Chassis had been C notched, so it has plenty of travel, except for the exhaust. Picture is taken with truck at normal ride height.

This picture is taken with vehicle at Ride Height, no passengers in vehicle. Imagine what happens when 2 passengers get in.

When the customer lets the air out of his bags, vehicle sits down on top of the brake caliper. Ouch!

Roll over picture to see another view. This is a common problem, that will prematurely wear the shock bushing out. Fortunately it has a pretty quick fix After the shock is removed put the nut back on stud to protect threads, take a piece of pipe long enough to have some leverage, slide all the way over the stud and carefully use the pipe to straighten mount.

Upper 4 link bracket to frame, owner was complaining about something hitting. At both points it needs approximately 1/4" clearance to correct. View is looking up at frame on passenger side, 4 bar bracket and bolt hitting.

Coil-over spring is actually rubbing against the axle housing. Lower mount is angled forward, causing the shock bushing to be in a bind, wearing the bushing. Possible correction...add spacer to upper shock mount pushing shock away from axle housing. Lower mount needs to be moved a few degrees back to correct mount angle, after inspecting the other shock (angle is ok) appears that the bars could be adjusted to correct most of the problem with alignment.

Owner was having a problem with tires rubbing when hitting a bump, so he installed a bumpstop to limit the travel and eliminate the tire rub. The car is actually sitting on it, suspension has no travel... but the tires don't rub. Believe it or not this is not the first time I have seen this!

Front straight axle with mono leaf spring. From this angle it is a little hard to see but there is a whopping 1" of travel before hitting the bumpstop.