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 56-60 Imperial Rear Axle Control Struts - Maybe a 4 link idea?Jump to page : 1 Now viewing page 1 [50 messages per page] | View previous thread :: View next thread |
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56D500boy |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9904     Location: Lower Mainland BC | . Today, I was updating my 55-56 Dodge rear spring thread and went looking for the U-bolt PNs. While searching for them, I encountered a listing for the Part Numbers (PNs) for the Imperial Rear Axle Control Struts. These were 1630 318 for 1956 and 1730 160 for 1957 to at least 1960. I then searched for these PNs and found some 1730 160s for sale on eBay. Finally, I could see what they looked like. I also found an old thread from 2011 that dealt with the Imperial rear axle control struts. StillOutThere (Wayne G.) posted a photo of a 1960 Imperial rear axle taken from below showing the struts in place. BUT no photos of the bracket on the axle, just the front bracket attached to the frame. I then Googled 1960 Imperial and found a video about changing the rear axle bearings on a 1960 Imperial. In one of the shots in the video, I could see both the control strut and the attachment bracket. This info might be useful to someone thinking about a 4 link suspension for their leaf spring Forward Look car. REFERENCES: 1. The recent 4 link thread: http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=78132&... 2. The previous rear axle control strut thread: http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=36478 3. The recent eBay auction for 1730 160 struts: https://www.ebay.com/itm/265105519324 4. Youtube video re: 1960 Imperial rear axle bearings, etc. with control strut bracket: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlSPx1IoCVc 5. The 55-56 Rear Dodge spring thread: http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=78042 Edited by 56D500boy 2023-01-16 8:46 PM (1630318_1730160ImperialRearAxelControlStruts_PNs.jpg) (WayneGsRearImperialSuspensionShowingControlStruts_Annotated.jpg) (1960ImperialRearAxleShowingMountForRearAxleControlStrut_Annotated.jpg) (1630318StrutAnd1635600BushingDiagram.jpg) (1630318ImperialRearAxelControlStruts_2.jpg) (1630318ImperialRearAxelControlStruts_3.jpg) Attachments ----------------  1630318_1730160ImperialRearAxelControlStruts_PNs.jpg (100KB - 64 downloads) WayneGsRearImperialSuspensionShowingControlStruts_Annotated.jpg (141KB - 72 downloads) 1960ImperialRearAxleShowingMountForRearAxleControlStrut_Annotated.jpg (123KB - 68 downloads) 1630318StrutAnd1635600BushingDiagram.jpg (147KB - 62 downloads) 1630318ImperialRearAxelControlStruts_2.jpg (120KB - 69 downloads) 1630318ImperialRearAxelControlStruts_3.jpg (137KB - 71 downloads) | ||
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| 56D500boy |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9904 Location: Lower Mainland BC | . Could it possibly be this easy to add the Imperial struts to a lesser period Mopar? 1. Add new brackets on top of the axle tubes (welded to the tube) 2. Piggy-back on the forward rear spring perches (with longer bolts) The Imperial Strut length is probably wrong (too long) and using the front spring perch for attachment might cause the new/longer bolts to shear??? Things to think about (like I don't have enough back logged projects already :P ) (And yes I know the chassis diagram is wrong-side up but that is all that I could find to work from)  Edited by 56D500boy 2023-01-17 7:22 PM (56DodgeChassis_base_AnnotatedWithAxleControlStrutMockUp_small.jpg) (56DodgeChassis_base_AnnotatedWithAxleControlStrutMockUp_2_Detail.jpg) (Example56DodgePlymouthRearSprintsFrontPerch_MockUp_Annotated_small.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 56DodgeChassis_base_AnnotatedWithAxleControlStrutMockUp_small.jpg (76KB - 67 downloads) 56DodgeChassis_base_AnnotatedWithAxleControlStrutMockUp_2_Detail.jpg (72KB - 67 downloads) Example56DodgePlymouthRearSprintsFrontPerch_MockUp_Annotated_small.jpg (224KB - 67 downloads) | ||
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| 56D500boy |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9904 Location: Lower Mainland BC | . There might be conflicts, at least for my car. That forward spring perch is very close to where the muffler shop located the muffler(s), as shown below. Otherwise it does seem possible. The other issue will be that the forward spring perch has to be removed from the chassis bracket to remove the bolt that goes through the spring "eye". It is fed in from the frame rail side. Seems like that could have been avoided back at the factory. Hmm..... (56DodgeRearSpringFrontPerch_LeftSide_ConflictWithMuffer_2.jpg) (SpringsAndForwardSpringPerch.jpg) (56DodgeRollingFrame_Annotated.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 56DodgeRearSpringFrontPerch_LeftSide_ConflictWithMuffer_2.jpg (116KB - 66 downloads) SpringsAndForwardSpringPerch.jpg (80KB - 64 downloads) 56DodgeRollingFrame_Annotated.jpg (183KB - 79 downloads) | ||
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| wizard |
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Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 13049   Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island | |||
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| 56D500boy |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9904 Location: Lower Mainland BC | wizard - 2023-01-18 8:15 AM Dave, I've seen a "traction bar" extra leaf spring on some cars that will do simular work as the Imperial "anti-hop" solution. If I remember correctly I've seen some 300 Fs with that extra leaf. Sven: Some of the extra leaf info came out in a 2011 thread that you started. http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=36478 That certainly is another option. I bought a set of Imperial Struts the other day. They will be delivered on Friday so I can start to figure out whether adding them to a 56 Dodge makes any sense/how hard it would be.  (62ImperialRearSuspensionShowingStrutBracketsAmdFrontMounts_1.jpg) (62ImperialRearSuspensionShowingStrutBracketsAndFrontMounts_FrontMountDetail.jpg) (ImperialRearSuspensionShowingStrutBracketWeldedToTheAxleTube_1.jpg) (ImperialRearSuspensionShowingStrutBracketWeldedToTheAxleTube_Detail.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 62ImperialRearSuspensionShowingStrutBracketsAmdFrontMounts_1.jpg (120KB - 66 downloads) 62ImperialRearSuspensionShowingStrutBracketsAndFrontMounts_FrontMountDetail.jpg (85KB - 69 downloads) ImperialRearSuspensionShowingStrutBracketWeldedToTheAxleTube_1.jpg (125KB - 69 downloads) ImperialRearSuspensionShowingStrutBracketWeldedToTheAxleTube_Detail.jpg (97KB - 65 downloads) | ||
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| wizard |
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Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 13049 Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island | |||
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| jboymechanic |
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Expert Posts: 2196 Location: Muskego, WI | Not sure if this helps you Dave, but here's an old picture of my 1956 Imperial chassis showing the setup. The 1956 frame had a large crossmember that the strut bars mounted to along with the top of the shocks. I've only been under a handful of 1956 Imperials, but on every one of them at least one of the mounts on the rear axle was broken or had been repaired (including the driver side bracket on this one). Edited by jboymechanic 2023-01-18 4:55 PM (Rear strut bars 35.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Rear strut bars 35.jpg (245KB - 65 downloads) | ||
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| wizard |
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Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 13049 Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island | |||
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| 56D500boy |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9904 Location: Lower Mainland BC | . Jon: Thanks for posting that photo of your 56 Imperial chassis. I just sent you a PM here with a request to email me a higher res photo (or photos) of that (and others) so I can zero in on the bracket designs better? (Thanks) Edited by 56D500boy 2023-01-18 6:58 PM | ||
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| 56D500boy |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9904 Location: Lower Mainland BC | . Picked up the 1960 Imperial Rear Axle Control Struts that I nabbed off eBay last weekend this AM in Point Roberts, WA (my US eBay mail drop). I fully expected that there would be issues at the front rear spring perch (conflicts with the exhaust system) (There are) *BUT* I assumed that the Imperial struts would be too long and I would have to deal with shortening them some how. WRONG-O. They are too short. This afternoon I measured the eye-to-eye length on the strut at about 17 3/8" inches. I also did an imprecise (one-handed) measurement of the rear spring bolt to the 56 Dodge rear axle tube center and got about 22.5". So the struts are about 5" too short. *IF* I have a sly and clever plan, it will probably involve a tubular extension at the spring perch end and a Heim joint (that will eliminate the exhaust conflict at the same time) (Maybe ) Some in-situ photos: Edited by 56D500boy 2023-01-21 2:15 AM (eBayImperialStrutEyeToEye17and3_8thsOrSo.jpg) (RearSpringFrontPerchAndExhaustSystem_1.jpg) (RearSpringFrontPerchAndExhaustSystem_ImperialStrutConflicts_1.jpg) (RearSpringFrontPerchAndExhaustSystem_ImperialStrutConflicts_2.jpg) (RearSpringFrontPerchAndExhaustSystem_ImperialStrutConflicts_3.jpg) (ImperialStrutComingUpShortOn56Dodge.jpg) Attachments ---------------- eBayImperialStrutEyeToEye17and3_8thsOrSo.jpg (110KB - 67 downloads) RearSpringFrontPerchAndExhaustSystem_1.jpg (101KB - 70 downloads) RearSpringFrontPerchAndExhaustSystem_ImperialStrutConflicts_1.jpg (124KB - 71 downloads) RearSpringFrontPerchAndExhaustSystem_ImperialStrutConflicts_2.jpg (115KB - 66 downloads) RearSpringFrontPerchAndExhaustSystem_ImperialStrutConflicts_3.jpg (138KB - 69 downloads) ImperialStrutComingUpShortOn56Dodge.jpg (103KB - 67 downloads) | ||
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| 56D500boy |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9904 Location: Lower Mainland BC | . In a recent posting about a 59 Imperial for sale in the Netherlands, I found a photo of the front mount of the Imperial rear axle control strut. Just for information. This one looks like it needs a new bushing (rubber is toast). My Imperial struts are still soaking in some pretty used up Rust B-gone (or Rust Eater or Rust Away ??) Edited by 56D500boy 2023-01-24 6:04 PM (59ImperialRearAxleControlStrutLeftFrontMount_small.jpg) (59ImperialRearAxleControlStrutLeftFrontMount_Detail.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 59ImperialRearAxleControlStrutLeftFrontMount_small.jpg (141KB - 73 downloads) 59ImperialRearAxleControlStrutLeftFrontMount_Detail.jpg (148KB - 76 downloads) | ||
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| 56D500boy |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9904 Location: Lower Mainland BC | . Jon L. (jboymechanic) came through with some photos and information that will help me figure things out (I hope). (Thanks very much Jonathan). Interesting that in 1956 shims were required at the rear mount and that the rear mount was actually two pieces, i.e. one that is welded to the rear axle tube and a bracket that is bolted to the welded one and has the hole for the rear eye (and bushing) of the strut. I did NOT know (or even think of) that. Edited by 56D500boy 2023-02-22 7:38 PM (JonathanLsRearImperialStrutMountPhoto.jpg) (JonathanLsRearImperialStrutMountFSMDiagram.jpg) (56Chrylser_Imperial_FSM_pg340.jpg) (56Chrylser_Imperial_FSM_pg341.jpg) Attachments ---------------- JonathanLsRearImperialStrutMountPhoto.jpg (149KB - 65 downloads) JonathanLsRearImperialStrutMountFSMDiagram.jpg (147KB - 60 downloads) 56Chrylser_Imperial_FSM_pg340.jpg (148KB - 64 downloads) 56Chrylser_Imperial_FSM_pg341.jpg (148KB - 65 downloads) | ||
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