1959 Cadillac Fleetwood

[MIKIMBIN1]

Hi I try to Install the Gabriel 82125 Rear shock absorbers and the top Bolt is too short, any good source and brand and model recomended?
Thanks

[David Greenburg]

Is that the Gabriel Classic? If so I just finished installing a set on my '60. I wound up re-using the old top bushing since it was already compressed and the rubber seemed healthy. You could also try slicing a little bit off the replacement bushings. It still took a number of tries before I got the nut to "catch" on the threads. The shocks come with universal bushings. I'm guessing the originals were slightly thinner.

[MIKIMBIN1]

Yes Gabriel Classic.

[cadman59]

You could also try slicing a little bit off the replacement bushings. It still took a number of tries before I got the nut to "catch" on the threads. The shocks come with universal bushings. I'm guessing the originals were slightly thinner.

That's what I did when I replaced the shocks on my '59 two years ago. Also with these Gabriel Classics.

[David Greenburg]

For some reason I didn't see the JPEG when originally replying. Duh. I do recall seeing somewhere that sells the shock bushings. Probably Steele or Rubber the Right Way. They might be thinner. Anyway, I'm looking forward to test driving my car with the new shocks as soon as the rain stops here. The old ones didn't make the car "bouncy" but there were some odd noises, and when I took them off, a couple had no compression at all; they just stayed at whatever position you pushed them to.

[Clewisiii]

For some reason I didn't see the JPEG when originally replying. Duh. I do recall seeing somewhere that sells the shock bushings. Probably Steele or Rubber the Right Way. They might be thinner. Anyway, I'm looking forward to test driving my car with the new shocks as soon as the rain stops here. The old ones didn't make the car "bouncy" but there were some odd noises, and when I took them off, a couple had no compression at all; they just stayed at whatever position you pushed them to.

. Well that would be the correct behavior of original hydraulic shocks.

[David Greenburg]

I don't believe the ones I removed were hydraulic; they weren't that old. Fronts were Monroe Sensa-track and rears were Delcos (not Pleasurizers) with the current logo on them.