Friction Shocks

bigdadhack · Post by **bigdadhack** » Tue Sep 04, 2018 6:32 pm

Hello,
Im currently running a transverse mounted torsion bar front suspension with no shocks. Im trying to keep the front end as plain and simple as possible. Pretty well decided to run a friction shock and am not opposed to fabricating my own. Has anyone here ran them and have any input on suggestions for arm length, single or multiple friction plates? I was considering setting up some type of a ratcheting system that might allow for different compression and rebound rates. (ratchet on compression and friction on return). Is there a good kit available, Ive seen a couple from Speedway that might offer a good starting point.
Any input will be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Hack

23Paddywagon · Post by **23Paddywagon** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 10:25 am

When i bought my chassis t bucket kit from Spirit it came with the friction shocks. Their idea seemed good and simple but never used it on my running vehicle. Converted to regular shocks. Their kit had about four pieces on each side, a combination of big thick 'washer' of metal and then same size fabric 'washer', pressure applied using nuts attached to a bolt going the width of the chassis. You can see it set up before the conversion at bobspaddywagon.com in the build section.

bigdadhack · Post by **bigdadhack** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 2:04 pm

Bob,
Thanks for the pics - Awesome build! That's very similar to what I plan on building. Should have all parts and pieces when I return home on Friday. Hope to cut out the attachment arms this Saturday and assemble everything Saturday night. Currently i have no front shocks on a transverse mounted torsion bar suspension. Drives good but the front wheels can jump around like a hyper rabbit on rough surfaces, hoping to tone that down a little.
Hopefully I'll remember to take some pics of the fabrication and build and post em here.
See ya,
Hack

Bruce Pickett · Post by **Bruce Pickett** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 2:33 pm

bigdadhack wrote: ↑Tue Sep 18, 2018 2:04 pm Bob,
Thanks for the pics - Awesome build! That's very similar to what I plan on building. Should have all parts and pieces when I return home on Friday. Hope to cut out the attachment arms this Saturday and assemble everything Saturday night. Currently i have no front shocks on a transverse mounted torsion bar suspension. Drives good but the front wheels can jump around like a hyper rabbit on rough surfaces, hoping to tone that down a little.
Hopefully I'll remember to take some pics of the fabrication and build and post em here.
See ya,
Hack

I don't think the friction shocks will stop all of the wheel bounce. Hydraulic shocks will . Maybe I'm wrong but I know a certain look is what you are going for. Try them and if not satisfied you can always go to hydraulic.

Bruce Pickett · Post by **Bruce Pickett** » Wed Sep 19, 2018 10:11 am

Will this help? Many ways to attach without hurting paint.

: shocks_front.jpg (54.31 KiB) Viewed 654 times

bigdadhack · Post by **bigdadhack** » Sun Sep 23, 2018 3:54 pm

Got it wrapped up last night. Here’s a few pics of parts and pieces. I’ll resize and create a better step by step of the project.
Luckily I’m surrounded by lots of crappy roads and got to test it out last night. Can’t say it’s a a huge improvement but it is better. I’ll continue to play and tune them. Hate to admit defeat but a pair of tube shocks may be in my future. Hope you guys had a great weekend.
Hack

bigdadhack · Post by **bigdadhack** » Sun Sep 23, 2018 3:56 pm

Just realized how messy the top of the toolbox is. Next weeks project

mike wade · Post by **mike wade** » Sun Sep 23, 2018 5:29 pm

My car went from driveable to a cruiser when I changed to hyd. shocks

bigdadhack · Post by **bigdadhack** » Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:58 pm

I'm gonna try and get fancy here - and create a novel of a post. Me I just look at the pictures, I know some guys just claim to read the articles
A few pics of parts and pieces, build, and finish
[attachment=3]finished2.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=4]finished(rs).jpg[/attachment]
Here's how they turned out
A couple of parts from Speedway modified to fit geometry

: Speedway clevis.jpg (142.16 KiB) Viewed 595 times

: Speedway Tab reshape.jpg (256.07 KiB) Viewed 595 times

: Speedway friction2.jpg (140.75 KiB) Viewed 595 times

Spent a little money at Speedway. A couple of these pieces were on sale. Figured I'd run 2 friction plates per side. More is always better right? I saw many complaints while reading about friction shocks about having to constantly adjust them because of tensioner nuts working loose. I added the the outer plates and pinned them in place which will eliminate any rotation being applied to the nut. Should mitigate that issue, only adjustment now should be tuning and plate wear. Minimal to none is what I'm guessing, never been down this road before.
Shortened the clevis' and modified the mounts to allow for movement without binding. In the end wasn't able to get them short enough to use, made links out of 3/16" plate and side bolted them

bigdadhack · Post by **bigdadhack** » Fri Sep 28, 2018 1:06 pm

not sure what the springs were from I had a few of them laying around. I back welded the mount bolt and anti roll pin to a piece of 3" channel and welded the channel to the side of the frame rail. Should be a clean removal and not induce too much stress into the frame when the time comes to do that.[attachment=0]Springs.jpg[/attachment][attachment=1]modified shackle2.jpg[/attachment][attachment=2]modified shackle.jpg[/attachment][attachment=3]channel welded2.jpg[/attachment][attachment=4]channel mounts(2).jpg[/attachment]
Can't tell just yet how tight to run them down. I had lofty plans of a ratcheting mechanism that would create a different resistance for each direction of travel. Got lazy and in a hurry and just fabbed this up. It will be easy to add that later if/when i get a round to it.