John_Mereness Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 Not that I just do not love a lever type shock, but I do not love a lever type shock - very 1930's throwback technology. Does someone make a set up to replace the rear shocks absorber on a 1955 Buick Roadmaster to replace the lever shock with a piston tube type shock. I keep hearing reference to a replacement set up all be it have not found anything definitive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick5563 Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 Nope. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 1 hour ago, buick5563 said: Nope. Thank you for expounding on the subject, Mike!! Ben 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Falabella Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 Can be rebuilt for the price of a good set of shocks. Apple Hydraulics one outfit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gmeyer316 Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 google rear shock replacement 1955 buick, there are several photos showing a DIY installation, looks pretty easy, thinking of doing it on my 55 Century. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 You CAN replace them with tube shocks, but will NEVER ride as good. Ben 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 6 minutes ago, First Born said: You CAN replace them with tube shocks, but will NEVER ride as good. Ben And they will outlast many pairs of replacement tube shocks. If you keep them full of fluid they will never wear out. The only things that goes wrong are leaks and links. Rebuilders will fix the leaks (or you can fix yourself --- see my website); links are available replacement items. The reason they went to tube shocks: they are cheaper! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesBulldogMiller55Buick Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 Mine have been rebuilt once in forty five years (perhaps the only rebuild since new) And they ride GREAT !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick5563 Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 I believe it may be able to be done by using 1956 mounting technology, as 56's went to tube shocks. I have ridden in two cars that were altered and I drove one. They all bounced around and felt like complete shite. The geometry wasn't right and since I love hot rods, but can't build one, I pulled the bouncy tube shocks off and replaced them with lever shocks. The owner was pleased. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick5563 Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 Not to be confused with tube socks: 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airy Cat Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 Ha Ha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1mortician Posted August 14, 2016 Share Posted August 14, 2016 Why change? Didn't Buick invest millions of dollars on a million dollar ride? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NTX5467 Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 8 hours ago, 1mortician said: Why change? Didn't Buick invest millions of dollars on a million dollar ride? Ford did too, for the 1963 Galaxie. Got them more rubber isolation and special strut rod bushings (which would fail with age . . . not solid, but had "voids" for a controlled compression to decrease impact harshness). Perhaps tube shocks from an application other than a '56 might be investigated? Possibly from an Olds with a similar frame configuration? Got to be something so others are not "following the bouncing tail lights". Whre's Brad54 and his special anti-sway bars??? NTX5467 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesBulldogMiller55Buick Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 (edited) Why did Buick go with tubular shocks in '56? Not because of technology, but because the tubular shocks saved GM money. They weren't concerned with what the car's owner was going to face when the tube shock wore out You might as well throw away the oil bath air cleaner. And put a paper element on there. Edited August 16, 2016 by JamesBulldogMiller55Buick (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Mereness Posted August 16, 2016 Author Share Posted August 16, 2016 I still am a tubular shock fan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NTX5467 Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 As good as the '55 system might have been, it was "old tech" and tube shocks were "new tech", which everybody else was already using (and had been for quite a while). Buick "had to keep up", so to speak, even if it might have been "a step backward" to some. NTX5467 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAD36 Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 Think the closest you could get is mocking up a 56 set up in how they attach to the axles. Maybe there is a way to fab up some U bolts and a plate or something and attach it to the axle. Since no known bolt in easy way exists to change them out yet for tube socks , is there another way to get a response change that you are looking for? If you are thinking adjustable shocks for any reason you can put Air Lifts in the springs to pick the back end up or tighten the response. Used to run those for years - kinda miss them actually. Also if you want to change the damping rate of the lever shock I seem to recall the metering valves or orifices can be replaced. These were one of the first things sent off to get rebuilt on my car and they came back with 2 different damping rates - because the rebuilder put 2 different valves in the L and R. If you ever get them rebuilt hang a 2-5 lb weight or equivalent off the lever and time how long each takes to compress/rebound prior to installing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 Some Buicks had tube shocks before going to lever shocks in the rear (1939?). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1mortician Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 On August 14, 2016 at 11:07 PM, NTX5467 said: Ford did too, for the 1963 Galaxie. Got them more rubber isolation and special strut rod bushings (which would fail with age . . . not solid, but had "voids" for a controlled compression to decrease impact harshness). Perhaps tube shocks from an application other than a '56 might be investigated? Possibly from an Olds with a similar frame configuration? Got to be something so others are not "following the bouncing tail lights". Whre's Brad54 and his special anti-sway bars??? NTX5467 Mine is riding just fine. Probably because it isn't a Ford. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Mereness Posted August 19, 2016 Author Share Posted August 19, 2016 Auburn used tube shocks in 1934 and 1935 - by 36 things were rough and they were back to lever shocks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuickBob49 Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 Buick used tube shocks in 1938, but went back to lever shocks in 1939. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airy Cat Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 I kept the lever shocks on my '54 and '55, but installed heavy duty rear springs and a heavier duty front sway bar. It made a big difference in handling. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juggalonly Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 On 5/17/2016 at 11:11 AM, old-tank said: And they will outlast many pairs of replacement tube shocks. If you keep them full of fluid they will never wear out. The only things that goes wrong are leaks and links. Rebuilders will fix the leaks (or you can fix yourself --- see my website); links are available replacement items. The reason they went to tube shocks: they are cheaper! I am new to this site and can not comment directly to you Old-Tank. How would if get to your website? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 http://buickrestorer.com/ 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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