The Stovebolt.com Forums Home | Tech Tips | Gallery | FAQ | Events | Features | Search
Help is a click away!

VEHICLE
INFORMATION
KITS


at the

GM Heritage Center
All the details are here.

Searching the Site - a click away
click here to search
New here ??? Where to start?
Click on image for the lowdown. Where do I go around here?
====
Who's Online Now
8 members (Rusty Rod, TUTS 59, Peggy M, 3B, J Lucas, David Bush, Southerntruck, 1 invisible), 103 guests, and 4 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics128,065
Posts1,055,863
Members48,428
Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026
Step-by-step instructions for pictures in the forums
Brad Allen's photos

AD Chevy Trucks

Pictures galore
Over 6,000 pictures

Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips.

Check them out!

Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!

Big Thanks!

THANKS!

For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for

over 30 years!

and not clogged down
with Ads!


Again, thanks!

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#1167835 06/02/2016 2:24 AM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 60
B
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
B Offline
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 60
My 49 1/2 ton has knee action shocks. How can I test them to see if they need replaced or just rebuilt??
thanks!!

Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 202
H
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
H Offline
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 202
Hi, billm, first check for oil leaks,then disconnect the link rod to the shock, now pull down on the link rod and it should be stiff, release the link rod and it should spring up. Next put the arm out of the shock at mid travel and move side to side to check for play. If it passes the tests. remove the shock and drain the oil to see if it has water in it, if not, good. On my shocks I drained out the old oil and refilled with 5wt Belray motorcycle fork oil. I had to make new cover gaskets out of 1/8" cork gasket. Have fun, Brian


Keep the 216's running. 1949 1/2 ton model #1314 (US 3104) Brian
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 60
B
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
B Offline
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 60
Thank you Brian !!!!!

Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,624
B
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
B Offline
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,624
Be ready for 'sticker shock' if they are bad. Last I heard, they were around $200.00 to rebuild with good cores.
If someone knows where to get it done at a lower price, please tell us. I've got six of them laying in a corner of the shop.


Six volt guy living in a twelve volt world
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,214
V
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
V Offline
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,214
Don't have anything to add, just book marking this for future use.
The shocks on my 49 "seem" to work OK and at this point haven't been gone through yet. They are original to the truck and based on the stains on frame and inner fenders around them, they will need addressing sooner than later.

Brian, good info on servicing
beltfed, sticker shock I rekon....

Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 308
D
'Bolter
'Bolter
D Online: Content
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 308
I drained mine years ago and refilled them with hydraulic jack oil. They actually work pretty well. Also, when testing them, be aware there were two types: single action and double action. The single action only damp in one direction - you pull against the damping force and when you release them they spring back. Double action damps in both directions.

Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 86
L
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
L Offline
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 86
can you drain these knee action shocks on the car or do you have to remove first? I have a 39


Moderated by  Dusty53, SWEET 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Home | FAQ | Gallery | Tech Tips | Events | Features | Search | Hoo-Ya Shop
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.0