Shock Question

[joekarter]

I have been given a pair of the Penske red shocks to try on my '84 Citation FV. When I went to bolt them on, I discovered that the VW mounts are all 12mm and the shock is 1/2 inch. So I went to a machine shop and asked about making shims to adapt them to the existing mounts. He looked at me like I had lost my mind.

So what is the best way to accomplish this? I am hoping for a temporary fix since I may need to go back to my original shocks if these don't work out or if he doesn't want to sell them.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

[problemchild]

Lots of 'proper" ways to do it, but people looking for a quick solution just wrap some shim stock around the stock hardware.

Beer/pop can material is one form of cheap and easily obtainable shim stock

[rdfrancis]

After reading the reply I had to google shim stock. Had no idea what it was. To my surprise, even Walmart has it! Thanks for the info Greg!

http://www.walmart.com/ip/40782753?w...068009&veh=sem

[Ed Womer]

Take a 1/2" bolt and drill it out from the head end and tap it with the correct metric thread and thread it onto the stud on the lower arm. Then drill out the top hole of the beam to 1/2" and start using a grade 5 or 8 blot in the top hole. Now you will be able to bolt on good shocks anytime you want.

Ed

[veeracer98]

Or buy the lower arms I have for sale that are already adapted for 1/2" eye.

[lucky13]

None of the ideas listed here will work properly. Send me the shocks and I will see that they are properly disposed of.

[Jphoenix]

Troy, see photos, you can find the upper shock bolt at a good hardware store, the lower bolt, as Ed Womer said, is a bolt, drilled and tapped to screw onto the existing shock mount, it's not hard to do, just takes patience, Dietmar might have them, check with him.

Lower bolt, drilled and tapped to fit the shock mount.

Bolt on the mount.

[provamo]

what is the purpose of the cable?

[Jphoenix]

what is the purpose of the cable?

Formerly to adjust the ride height, no longer installed - apparently not needed as removing it has produced no ill effect.

Thanks for fixing the photos Bill.

[mikehinkle]

I'm interested in the cable setup. Do you have a picture of where it attaches on both ends? It doesn't look very thick. I suppose it does not have to be very strong because it is only holding back the spring pressure or upwards force when accelerating.

[budawe]

The cables act as droop stops for the front end. Many people use them to reduce total roll as well. I tried them and didn't like the sudden stop. You'll see a tendency to lift the inside tire, especially if you use the curbs. Was told once, cars don't work as well on 3 wheels, you make the call.

I prefer to increase rebound on the front shocks and sway bar size to control roll rates.

[joekarter]

Shocks mounted and ready to go. Thanks for all the help!

[AVR_Shane]

what is the purpose of the cable?

I figured it was a wheel tether, installed after the impressive use of them in Alonso's wreck!

[Jphoenix]

You'll see a tendency to lift the inside tire, especially if you use the curbs.

Kinda like this... Before I removed the cable.

[budawe]

Great shot. It shows how the rest of the car is over loaded. The key in making a vee fast is making it predictable. It's a iffy package at best, but if you slow the transitions down and end with soft landings on the limits, you'll get a car that will give you confidence.

I tell my students, you don't drive a vee, you negotiate with it. Nice slow hands and knowing what your car is willing to do, will make you faster.