I have 73 Maverick and have lowered the front a little and have since blown my front shocks due to them bottoming out. I have been all over the web trying to find some that would be approx. 2 inches shorter or at least a 2 inch shorter body on it. I would even consider fabricating some kind of bracket if I could just find a shorter shock that might work. HAs anyone else had this problem or just me. If so, what was the cure? It's like driving around a big old 72 caddy or something with all kinds of front end bounce.
Welcome! Do you have the bumpers on the outer shock tower plates? This should have prevented bottoming the shocks.
Yes I have them on both sides but I have lowered the car about 2 inches up front so even though the bump stops were there, the shock body itself is still to long and bottomed out.
Several years ago I managed a Midas shop. We sold Monroe shocks. My shock book gave specs on all Monroe shocks and I was able to help several people get shocks for special applications. I can only assume that someone can do this for you if they will take the time to look in their books...or computers. I'm sure the info must still be available. Just gotta find somebody that wants to help you.
PUT SPACERS OF HOW MUCH YOU CUT OUT UNDER THE NUT WHERE YOU BOLT IT DOW and you can use the stock shock
You said you didn't have the problem I'm having. Did you lower the front of your car 2 inches? I did not get lowered springs, instead I cut a coil and a half to obtain the same thing and it didn't affect ride quality one bit.
I put a windsor in my first Maverick and bought a set of hooker shorty block hugger headers and they didn't fit. I had to put original manifolds on it. You can clearance your shock towers with a plate that runs straight down and gives you a new mounting point for the upper A arms. I have seen picture of it done before so it is possible.
I dropped my 73 3" and it hit the bump stops but never damaged the shocks only the bumpstops. My current Mav is dropped about 2" if not a little more but it hits the bumpstops on hard bumps(they're supposed to tho) and I haven't had the shock issue with it either. You may have the wrong shock or the application that you are using may have a longer body than other types. I would ask to see a couple of different brands to see if there is a significant difference. Even 1/2" is significant.
You might be able to just put spacers and use longer bolts under your top shock mount plates - I don't know how high you can go until you hit the underside of the hood
Yeah I have the proper shocks in there but I'll have to have them pull a couple brands so I can see them all side by side for a comparison. If it doesn't work, which I think it will, I saw some mustang people with the same issues and identical shocks put a spacer block under the shock mount on top of the shock tower. Couple options, just need to find the right one for my application. Thanks!
The spacers are the least intrusive and cheapest way to get a little extra travel out of the shock. Use a blob of modeling clay on the top of the shock loop(highest point) and that should give you some idea of clearance. I think I have over an inch of clearance from what I can see by eyeballing it through an access hole in the core support. you can also add spacers under the shock mount "hats" if it looks a little unstable.
