Cadillac & LaSalle Club Discussion Forum

Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => Technical / Authenticity => Topic started by: jackworstell on February 12, 2018, 11:21:56 AM

Title: Knee Action Shock Absorber Fluid
Post by: jackworstell on February 12, 2018, 11:21:56 AM
The knee action shock absorbers in 1930s/1940s  Cadillacs....what is the right fluid for these  ???

Jack Worstell    jlwmaster@aol.com
Title: Re: Knee Action Shock Absorber Fluid
Post by: Jay Friedman on February 12, 2018, 11:48:47 AM
It's called, naturally, shock absorber fluid.  I think Kanter's sell it. 
Title: Re: Knee Action Shock Absorber Fluid
Post by: jackworstell on February 12, 2018, 12:01:55 PM
.....hoping to find a product generally available locally that I wouldn't have to order........

Jack Worstell
Title: Re: Knee Action Shock Absorber Fluid
Post by: Dan LeBlanc on February 12, 2018, 01:07:03 PM
The search function is your friend

http://forums.cadillaclasalleclub.org/index.php?topic=139885.0

AKA . . . motorcycle fork oil.

http://forums.cadillaclasalleclub.org/index.php?topic=70576.0

http://forums.cadillaclasalleclub.org/index.php?topic=128021.0

Title: Re: Knee Action Shock Absorber Fluid
Post by: jackworstell on February 12, 2018, 03:53:56 PM
Dan    Yup  you're right,.,,I should have done a search first.     There's almost no subject of interest to an owner of an old Cadillac that hasn't been discussed on this excellent forum   ( and usually multiple times )

Thanks to everyone for your responses.

Jack Worstell      jlwmaster@aol.com
Title: Re: Knee Action Shock Absorber Fluid
Post by: Jim Miller on February 12, 2018, 08:52:19 PM
I used hydraulic jack oil to keep them filled. Because the fronts were seeping when I bought the car I had Apple Hydraulic rebuild them all. You could call Apple and see what they use when they rebuild the shocks.
Jim Miller
Title: Re: Knee Action Shock Absorber Fluid
Post by: Chasmann on February 13, 2018, 06:11:56 PM
How much better was the ride after the rebuild.Charlie M.
Title: Re: Knee Action Shock Absorber Fluid
Post by: Jim Miller on February 13, 2018, 08:20:29 PM
Charlie - The rebuild did improve the ride. They hadn't been touched for 76 years - their response was so so and the fronts seeped oil. A few months later I replaced the bushings on the rear springs, which was an improvement also. The old bushings were atrified.
Jim Miller