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Veteran
Posts: 259
 
Location: Detroit MI area | Went to install the rear KYB's on the '57 Dodge wagon today and ran into trouble. From previous experience with my 300C the KG5511's are the right number for the rear of the car. In the KYB catalog there is no listing for '57 Dodge but '57 Plymouth (all models) shows the same 5511 part number.
Everything on the car is stock. With the car and wheels on the ground the shocks are 1 inch too short to fit. That's not good. I figure to allow for some downward suspension travel the shocks really need to be even a bit longer. Anyone know what KYB part number will fit a wagon? I'm sure all 57-58-59 mopar wagons should be the same.
Jim Krausmann
Detroit
Here's the link to the KYB catalog
http://www.kyb.com/catalog/2008_passenger_car.pdf |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 444
Location: North of the 49th |
Well I personally have never installed KYBs' on anything but I can assure you that all the wagons share the same suspension, I've always owned one of these
and my usual thing was to install a set of Monroe "Load levelers"('cause I used 'em as wagons) So far I've had the same shock on the Following wagons: 1957 Dodge Sport Suburban (Canadian Built) , 1959 Plymouth Custom Suburban, 1959 Dodge Custom Suburban (Can built) presently I own a 1959 Dodge Custom Sierra and it all appears to be the same shock. Monroe load levellers have been discontinued and I installed a conventional shock but I added a leaf to the spring pack 'cause its a 9 pass.
Monroe part number 31131 , Gabriel also lists a conventional, 81469 they also list the "Highjacker" which is an air shock. |
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Veteran
Posts: 259
Location: Detroit MI area | Thanks for the follow up. The dumb thing is that threw the old shocks away so I don't have anything to compare them to. I emailed KYB yesterday. Their tech department says they don't make a shock that is any longer than the 5511 with the same size eyelets.
I only have the bare body on the frame with no engine or trans installed. I can see the car settling some when dressed out but not enough to make the KYB's fit.
I checked Monroe today and found the 31131 part number that you mentioned. Just to be sure I emailed Monroe's tech department to ask what the full length of of the 31131 is.
I'll let you know the difference in the lengths between the 2 brands.
Jim
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Veteran
Posts: 259
Location: Detroit MI area | OK, some updates on station wagon rear shocks. The KYB 5511 rear shocks measure up at 21.5" from the centers of the eyelets. The KYB tech people says this is the longest shock they make with this size eyelet.
However their own catalog says this shock will fit the 58 Plymouth wagon. There are no KYB listings for the 57-58-59 Dodge, Chrysler or DeSoto wagons.
While I'd go for the KYB's first I know this shock won't fit unless the leaf springs are weak or you load up the car first. My 57 Dodge wagon needs 22.5" minimum just to connect the shocks. The question--- how much more downward travel will the rear suspension need?
I'd guess 1-3". The variables would be load, leaf spring condition and the type of roads. If the shocks are short the symptoms could range from noise to broken shock mounts.
Here are some brand names, model numbers and maximum travel measurements-
Gabriel Classic, a standard shock
81469- 22.5"
82064-23.5"
82054-24.5"
82046-26.04"
Monroe standard model
31131- 23 3/8"
Monroe Sensa Track
37189-25.5"
There are coil over shocks and air shocks in the catalogs but I didn't follow up on those. Gabriel's catalog is on-line. Monroe has an application guide on-line (spotty with Forwardlook coverage) but also offers email and great phone tech support.
Jim Krausmann
Detroit
Edited by JimK 2008-03-21 5:57 PM
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Inactive by user's request
 
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada | Jim and all,
Check this out:
http://www.imperialclub.com/Repair/Springs/index.htm
Not '57-'59 Plymouth/Dodge wagon specific, but some of this info can point us in the right direction.
K. |
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Expert
Posts: 3893
 
Location: Northen Virginia | I don’t know about wagons, but i installed 4 KYB shock this weekend in my 61 new Yorker, let me tell you that I have no idea how to change the front shock if they are not shot, or with out disassembling the lower control arm, also was freaking hard to put the new ones on.
However the differences in length between the originals and the KBY are something to notice.
Attaching pictures of them side to side, the front 4507 are LONGER than the originals, and the rear 5511 are shorter!!!, but here is when NOS part help a lot.. I have the original NOS rear shock for my NY, the part number is 2206509 (Oriflow), and the length is 22 3/8”of course that a 22 ½” will work just fine.
Hope this help, but I don’t know how this affects the shorter shocks once you hang the car and the leaf spring pull on them..
As you can see in the pics, mine rears where heavily damaged (left side only), last picture in the bottom, I still cant figure out why it is like this, the only thing close is the exhaust pipe, which shows no sign of being the cause of this damage, I mean no dent or scratch. Hope that someone can tell me. TXS
Edited by hemidenis 2008-04-13 1:43 PM
 (frontshocks.jpg)
 (rearnoshocks.jpg)
 (damaged shocks.jpg)
Attachments
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 frontshocks.jpg (122KB - 115 downloads)
rearnoshocks.jpg (119KB - 124 downloads)
damaged shocks.jpg (75KB - 124 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 3402
Location: Chestertown, NY ( near Lake George) | Make sure the longer shock does not get over extended, say if jack the car with the wheels hanging. looking at the angle and shape of the indentation you should be able to simulate what on the car would do that. |
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KYB and Station Wagon Question
