'58 356A Speedster rear shock top mount questions.

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Steve Raucher
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'58 356A Speedster rear shock top mount questions.

#1 Post by Steve Raucher »

Hello all,
Way back in the day the rear top shock mounts and rubber snubbers were removed on my Speedster. Why did guys do this back in the day, to lower the rear etc? I doubt I will return it to original as the car handles fine but would it be prudent to source the correct parts to have for the next caretaker?
Any insight is appreciated.
Regards,
Steve
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Steve Raucher
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Re: '58 356A Speedster rear shock top mount questions.

#2 Post by Steve Raucher »

Also if I do source the shock mount brackets, should I only look for T2 Speedster or will mounts from another A car etc. work? Rubber snubbers as well.
Thank you.
Steve
 

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Steve Raucher
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Re: '58 356A Speedster rear shock top mount questions.

#3 Post by Steve Raucher »

Where are the experts, please review and chime in.
Steve
 

Alex Finigan
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Re: '58 356A Speedster rear shock top mount questions.

#4 Post by Alex Finigan »

What are you using for upper shock mounts now?

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Steve Raucher
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Re: '58 356A Speedster rear shock top mount questions.

#5 Post by Steve Raucher »

Hi Alex,
As seen in the pics, top shock mounts look to me to be mounted directly to under carriage of car. Strange is it not? Will have to inspeck closer later.
Steve
 

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Al Zim
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Re: '58 356A Speedster rear shock top mount questions.

#6 Post by Al Zim »

Your shock mounts look correct. I suggest you take the car to someone that can look at them for you. If you have a knocking noise ass you go over bumps then the shock has not been positioned correctly at the top. Usually a thick wide washer under the bottom rubber mount of the shock cures this. al zim
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Steve Raucher
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Re: '58 356A Speedster rear shock top mount questions.

#7 Post by Steve Raucher »

Thanks Al,
It is all good drive wise. Thought I had seen 356a shock mounts and rubber snubbers on The Samba, perhaps not meant for Speedsters.
Maybe I will have a look at original Speedster to see what is really going on.
Regards,
Steve
 

Dick Weiss
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Re: '58 356A Speedster rear shock top mount questions.

#8 Post by Dick Weiss »

Steve,

The shocks you're showing have nothing to do w/holding up the car; They just absorb the bumps to cushion the ride during a drive.
If you have gas shocks, they may tend to raise the car a slight amount, but negligibly.
The upper mount should be as Al Zim says--especially the rubber doughnuts including the large washers.

Dick

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Harlan Halsey
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Re: '58 356A Speedster rear shock top mount questions.

#9 Post by Harlan Halsey »

Steve,
I think you may be confusing the shock mount, which you have, with the bump stop and rubber bumper on the axle tube. Those were routinely removed to fit wider rims on racing cars. (The shock channel and the shock mount were sometimes moved inward to further accommodate wider tires, but I wouldn't know anything about that.)

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Jim Clement
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Re: '58 356A Speedster rear shock top mount questions.

#10 Post by Jim Clement »

I think I know what this.. from experience..
when the car is static.. all looks good, when you start moving / bumps, the threaded portion is sticking up to high, and hits the body.. clunk.. clunk..
In looking at your picture, i think you are missing the top rubber mount.. see attached picture.
it is hard to get the retaining washer on.. but just take a but of work.. then I was all good..
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