The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun Rear Shocks

Should there be rear shocks on a 1953 1 Ton with a box bed? Mine only has leaf springs. I don't see any brackets on the frame or axle for shocks. It does have front shocks.

rear shocks were only standard on the 1/2 and 3/4T, they really don't do anything on the bigger trucks, especially since they were intended to be carrying a full load all the time

Bill

Thanks Bill. What I needed to know.

My 1950 1-ton has brackets for rear shocks on both the frame and the rear axle, but no actual shocks when I got the truck. Can't imagine that they would be of any value given the leaf springs on the back of this beast.

Bruce

Rear shocks can improve your ride by reducing bounce and retarding roll in cornering, esepecially with a load.

After my long trip to KS City for the SBR last year, the two things I came away with after 3000 plus highway miles was; that I need to add a front sway bar and rear shocks. While the truck does fine in the 35-45 mph range, get her up to 55 or 60 it can get a bit exciting in traffic on bumpy highways with humps and camber changes.

Good advice Ned.

Ned - a very large part of your trucks handling has to do with the fact it's a panel, the increased weight on the rear end and up high has a noticeable effect with any model panel compared to pickup or flatbed - the TF panels have a sway bar standard, surprised the AD doesn't

Bill

I simply drove my panel up the street a few times and on a couple ocassions I had to go off the edge of the street. This was B/4 I put the sway bar back on...... it "rocked" pretty good. After I put the front sway bar back on, and the two rear shocks I duplicated the trip up and down the street again and WHAT A DIFFERENCE. I'm sold!!! Just my .02

Bill you're right about the taller overall profile of a panel affects the CG, no bout a doubt it. The addition of rear shocks will make an improvement on any vehicle. Shocks only became standard on 1 ton and above sometime in the 70s. As a dealer mechanic I installed shocks on many trucks and they do improve ride and stability.

I don't know why the AD one tons didn't come with sway bars. Perhaps because being work horses they seldom exceeded the 45 mph speeds they were pretty much limitied to by gearing and engine options available then. Of course the addition of sway bars and improved steering is a given.

I have a 3600 1948 so not as big as the 3800 (but that is my next wish) but My 3600 does great except like you said above on curves or with ruts in the road at speeds above 50 to 55 with a 4.56 rear end. i have radials, 16 inch wheels, good knee action stock shocks, good springs, alignment etc, but I am wondering about these sway bars that you are talking about. would it be of benefit on a 3/4 ton, front back or both and what vendor would you use? thanks

Sway bars always will improve handling, especially as speeds increase. http://www.classicperform.com/ offeres both front and rear swaybar kits. I bought my front kit there, though to be honest the weather has been too cold for me to install it yet.

Hey Ned - what shocks would you recommend for the rear of my 1950 1-ton? My local parts store won't suggest anything, but I'd like to put a pair on while I'm working other things on the rear-end. I'm not doing anything fancy, so it doesn't need to be anything special. Thanks in advance - Bruce

Bruce, I haven't done my shocks yet, so I can't say for sure. But my thoughts were to use shocks for a late model truck. The shock mounts on the rear should accept them as is. Brackets to mount to the frame should be fairly easy to fab, even in the back yard with only a saw,drill and well tuned hammer. They could be bolted in fairly easy, though a welder might be quicker.

Just about any shock for the rated load of the truck should be ok functionally. As with the heavy springs, there isn't a lot of travel.

If you manage to work it out, I would like to hear what you learn.

Ned

Thanks for the info Ned, fortunately my 1-ton already has perches on the frame and axle for shocks so getting them mounted should be pretty simple. I'll let you know what I find out.

Bruce