Anybody had any experience with shock extension on the rear. The help get the tire out, but look like they leave the shock stem as a brittle weak point.

Thanks

Are you trying to raise the rear of your car?  Shock extensions won't do that by themselves.  To raise the ride height, you need to replace the springs with higher rate units or re-arch the ones you have now.

No I think he means extending the shock length so when the car is jacked up suspension goes further and he can get the wheel off. Im having that problem with the shocks I have . I have never seen shock extensions?



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

Yes its to lower the suspension when jacked up to get the oversize tires in and out. I will post a photo shortly.

There is a better choice-replace the shocks with Gabriel G63398.These were originally for a Ford pickup front shock.They are longer which allows the wheels to drop farther.I have used them as well as several other members.They can be found at very reasonable prices on Ebay .Sand them off and spray black and no one can tell the difference.For some reason the shocks specified for 55-56 Ford are too short to allow the wheels to drop far enough when raised off the ground.I just did a search on Ebay for "Gabriel G63398".There are at least 3 listings for pairs under $30.00.These are brand HD new gas shocks.Suggested fronts are 82026.Harder to find though.

  

I used those shocks Mark and didn't have success ...I think I got a dud set, went back to the standard gas shocks that came with the car and it was better.



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

You must have got duds.Several of us have used them.What was the problem?

  

If it is a matter of total travel, a stud extension (I think that is what you are describing) will allow the axle to extend to a longer distance but it will also fully compress sooner in the opposite direction.  You should be able to find catalogs that list total travel, i.e. compressed O.A.L. minus fully extended O.A.L. for their various models.  Compare that with what you have now and go from there.  I have used the extenders in the past but they are a "bandaid" not a permanent solution to your problem.  I actually ended up reusing the extenders to lengthen the shift levers on a Ferguson tractor.

They never seemed right, if I held them by hand I could easily pull them in and out, and didnt seem even either, for a truck shock I would have thought quite hard to compress, I thought maybe it was special valving but nah wheren't that great on the car.



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

Sounds like they were defective.Gas filled.As soon as you remove the wire keeping them compressed for shipping they extend.You have to fight to get them compressed short enough to install.