1967 Steering Shock - how to determine if worn out? Can bushings be replaced?

[Scott S.]

1967, L79, with manual steering and steering shock/dampener

The steering shock in question is an AC Delco service replacement GM #4975447, dated early 1976 (stamped 068 76) and was installed in early 1977.

I have a receipt from Acme Spring dated 7-6-77 showing the odometer reading at that time was: 81,119. The odometer read 96,000 miles when the restoration began. Considering how little the car was driven since 1976, and several service receipts documenting mileage over the years, it seems the odometer reading is accurate. The car was parked from 1993 to 1998 when it was driven once (about 20 miles) and parked again until a couple years ago when we disassembled the car, so the steering shock/dampener has about 15,000 miles on it.

Is there a way to determine whether a steering shock is functioning properly or needs to be replaced, when it is not installed on the car?

The rubber bushings are worn/rotted, can they be replaced?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 Steering Shock - how to determine if worn out? Can bushings be replaced?

1967, L79, with manual steering and steering shock/dampener

The steering shock in question is an AC Delco service replacement GM #4975447, dated early 1976 (stamped 068 76) and was installed in early 1977.

I have a receipt from Acme Spring dated 7-6-77 showing the odometer reading at that time was: 81,119. The odometer read 96,000 miles when the restoration began. Considering how little the car was driven since 1976, and several service receipts documenting mileage over the years, it seems the odometer reading is accurate. The car was parked from 1993 to 1998 when it was driven once (about 20 miles) and parked again until a couple years ago when we disassembled the car, so the steering shock/dampener has about 15,000 miles on it.

Is there a way to determine whether a steering shock is functioning properly or needs to be replaced, when it is not installed on the car?

The rubber bushings are worn/rotted, can they be replaced?

Scott-----


If there appears to be little or no fluid leakage from the steering shock absorber, I think the chances are very great that it is fine.

The rubber bushings can be replaced.

[Scott S.]

Re: 1967 Steering Shock - how to determine if worn out? Can bushings be replaced?

Scott-----

If there appears to be little or no fluid leakage from the steering shock absorber, I think the chances are very great that it is fine.

The rubber bushings can be replaced.

Thanks Joe, that's encouraging news. No fluid leaking at all, just dirty, so I will clean it up and repaint if necessary. The only information I could find in the archives was a post of yours from 2007 on this subject, where you said that (rear shock lower mount) Grommet GM #3735334 might work as a replacement on the steering shock, but you were not sure at that time.

GMpartsdirect says #3735334 is no longer available. Do I need to hunt down an NOS part, or is there a currently available grommet that will work? Both ends need the rubber bushing replaced, one looks like a regular shock absorber bushing, but the other end has the mounting stud which appears to be attached to the center section of the bushing.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 Steering Shock - how to determine if worn out? Can bushings be replaced?

Thanks Joe, that's encouraging news. No fluid leaking at all, just dirty, so I will clean it up and repaint if necessary. The only information I could find in the archives was a post of yours from 2007 on this subject, where you said that (rear shock lower mount) Grommet GM #3735334 might work as a replacement on the steering shock, but you were not sure at that time.

GMpartsdirect says #3735334 is no longer available. Do I need to hunt down an NOS part, or is there a currently available grommet that will work? Both ends need the rubber bushing replaced, one looks like a regular shock absorber bushing, but the other end has the mounting stud which appears to be attached to the center section of the bushing.

Scott------


Doc Rebuild has the shock grommets. I don't know of a source for the bushings on the other end of the steering shock absorber.

[Scott S.]

Re: 1967 Steering Shock - how to determine if worn out? Can bushings be replaced?

Scott------


Doc Rebuild has the shock grommets. I don't know of a source for the bushings on the other end of the steering shock absorber.

I have what I think is the original steering shock (dated 1966, it was in the AC Delco box that the 1976 replacement came in) and it has a different nut on the stud/mount end. Since the original is not usable, I experimented on it, to see if the stud through the center of the bushing could be removed. If I just put a wrench on the nut, it turns the entire grommet/stud assembly within the steering shock housing. When I put a vice-grip on the end-plate side and then turned the nut, the center part on the far end (vice-grip end) turned while the end-disc/plate remained stationary in the vice-grip.

Any ideas, or is this a dead end?