47 Cad front shock service

[47 Caddy]

trying to help a friend to change/flush and refill the front shocks, Motor Manual has nothing. Any help would be much appreciated.
Thank you, Mel Skaqggs

[Jay Friedman]

When you say "change/flush and refill the front shocks...", by "change" do you mean remove and replace the shocks, a big job, or just change the shock fluid? 

The '47 shop manual--the Cadillac factory manual, not Motor's Auto Repair Manual--should have information on doing either job.

[47 Caddy]

just change fluid, Thanks

[LeRoy DeVol]

I REPLACED THE FRONT SHOCKS ON MY 47 CAD & IT WAS A LOT OF WORK. YOU CAN BUY REBUILT SHOCKS FROM KANTER AUTO PARTS FOR ABOUT $200.00 PER SHOCK. THERE PHONE #1-800-526-1096. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT CHANGING THE FLUID IN YOUR SHOCKS!! IF THE SHOCKS WORK OK I WOULD NOT CHANGE THE FLUID . UNLIKE THE OIL IN YOUR MOTOR THE FLUID IN YOUR SHOCKS DOES NOT GET DIRTY OR WEAR OUT. IF THE SHOCKS NEED FLUID THEN THE SEALS ARE BAD & YOU WOULD BE SMARTER TO REPLACE THEM. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THE SHOCKS IS IF THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A LONG TIME THEY WILL FREEZE UP. THE SHOCKS ON THE REAR HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE LINK BETWEEN THE SHOCK ARM & THE AXLE & THEY ARE HARD TO FIND. I BOUGHT MINE FROM ALLCADS OF THE 40'S & 50'S & THEY ARE ABOUT $90.00 ECH. YOU MAY BE ABLE TO BUY THEM FROM KANTER AUTO AS WELL. I HOPE THIS WILL HELP AS I GAVE YOU MORE INFORMATION THEN YOU ASKED FOR.

LEE DEVOL

[47 Caddy]

thank you Lee

[Jay Friedman]

Another good place for new shocks, parts and service is Apple Hydraulics, Calverton NY.  I agree with LeRoy that changing the shocks in a '30s or '40s Cadillac is a big job.  I wrote an article in the October 2004 Self Starter with tips on doing it if you decide to attempt it.