The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Broken Shock Bracket - is this common?

After replacing the shocks the passenger side bracket broke. We had to grind it off, weld it back together and put it back. On Friday the same thing in the same location on the driver-side bracket broke. Is this common? My father said it's because it's a 47 year old truck. I'm thinking the shocks are the problem but were sold to me as the correct ones. Any thoughts?

A few years ago I busted both of the front shock brackets on my '58.

Sounds like your shocks might be bottoming out. If you remove them from both sides you can pick the truck up by the frame and measure the distance between the upper and lower mount point, then stretch the shock all the way out and see if the mount points measurement are greater than those on the truck. Now pick the truck up by the axle and measure that distance, less two inches,(for hitting bumps), collapse the shock all the way and it should measure LESS than the distance on the truck mounting points. If it measures more it will tear off shock brackets, ruin the shock, or both. If your shock doesn't have a dust shield you can clamp a fuel hose clamp onto the stem(lightly) and check after driving, if it's pushed all the way to the top of the stem it's the wrong length.

Could be your truck is lower than it came stock and you've got stock shocks, which will be longer than you need and could cause that problem??

I had the same problem with my 58 Chevy about 15 years ago. The two upper mounts for the front shocks snapped at seperate times. After the second one snapped again about one month later (but at a different spot than the weld), I had new mounts machined and bolted them on. I have a degree in engineering, and both me and my roommates in college at the time (also engineering students) just figured that it was due to metal fatigue. The truck was and is a completely stock vehicle given to me by my grandfather, who bought it new; so, I KNOW that the suspension was never modified in any way.

Thanks everyone. I'll follow your recommendations coilover - that sounds like a good way to figure it out. I'm just surprised both went. This is my daily driver so it's preventing me from doin' stuff. Here's a pic: http://members.shaw.ca/magnolia/broke-shock.jpg

In an odd way its good the shock bracket broke as I found the castle nuts were extremely loose. I also found there was almost no brake fluid. It seems when they put in the new king-pins, they drained the brake fluid and didn't replace it. I didn't expect to check and verify everything done at shops. I'm learnin' a new thing everyday.

I've got the details of the shocks: Napa Classic Rider Gas, extended 20.23, collapsed 12.37 stroke 7.86. Manufacturer is Gabriel part#739047

Is this too much for the 58 Chev 1/2t?

"too much" depends on the condition of the springs and the presence, and condition of, the bottoming bumpers - correct shocks for the TF trucks:
front shocks - Monroe 3100 [each] or Gabriel 82047
rear shocks - Monroe "Limited Edition" LE10018 [come in pairs] or Gabriel 82060

those mounts breaking isn't uncommon depending on how the truck has been treated over the years - wrong shocks, weak or broken springs, lotsa use on very rough roads - as Lumbergh sez, metal does fatigue, and those mounts weren't designed to last any longer than the rest of the truck

Bill

Mag: My 59 had the same problem took one and machined it out of 1/4 steel and made it look stock: overkill I do not care.

popcorn The Truth is Out There (First part of the truck I fixed by little ol lonesome self very proud of finished product) Pops