Found some interesting things when I went to replace the rubber bushings (with brass inserts) on my single action lever arm shocks. All four of my links were fine, but the bushings were cracked and worn. Looked at Chev's of the 40's and their pins had no knurl on the ends. The ends are knurled so they won't turn in the links, which would make the holes egg shaped very soon. I checked my original pins. They are .375 on the head end and .350 on the knurled end. Saw that Jim Carters pins were knurled so ordered the bushings and pins, and one link. The links have the correct diameter holes, .375 on one side and .350 on the other side. So far so good. The pins however are about .355 on the head end as well as the knurled end. So the head end wobbles in the link on the head end side. Also, it seems like a small thing, but there are 24 divisions on the new pin knurls, and 26 on the originals. This means if you have good links, you can't use the new pins. The bushings are perfect by the way. The last thing is that the original pins are case hardened, so the knurl will press groves in the link. The new pins are soft, so they sort of smoosh into the link, not making the nice grooves so they don't turn. If you don't drive much, I guess it won't matter. What I wonder is if someone goes to the trouble to have the new pins made, why not make them the same as original? I found .375 pins and turned down the ends and knurled them with 26 grooves and had them case hardened and they fit my old links perfectly. Maybe I am just a perfectionist, but any slop in the suspension that can be eliminated makes for a quieter, smoother driving truck. If there is interest, I might make a batch and see if Carter or someone else wants to carry them.
