You've opened up a big ol' can of worms; asking for our opinions on
shocks...
There are a few choices available for you to consider:
1. Rebuilt/new levers. Many people have used heavier weight oils (motorcycle
fork oil, etc) to stiffen their shocks. I have also heard of a trick using
heavy duty valves from an MG lever shock. I have no idea if or how well that
works. Another option is to send your icky old shocks to a company called
Apple Hydraulics ( www.applehydraulics.com ). They will rebore your shocks
(if you don't have an exchange, they will sell you a pair outright) and put
new valves in the shocks. You can choose between standard ($50 w/ exchange)
and heavy duty ($60 w/ exchange) strengths. Many folks have gone this route
and I have not heard anything negative about them. I will be getting a pair
of the HD's for my 75 TR6 this winter.
2. Tube Shock conversions. I believe there are a few designs available. One,
like the one my PO put in my car, uses bracketry that bolts to the body,
inside the wheel well. I strongly suggest you do not take this route. The
car creaks and squeaks enough without adding more stresses to it like that.
Then there are the conversions such as you are looking at now. I do not have
any experience with these conversions and therefore cannot give you an
educated opinion of these. I do know that any tube shock conversion will
give you a higher-tech shock than levers, but one of the costs is wheel/tire
clearance. Make sure this is not an issue with your car. I autocross my TR,
and I run with larger wheels and tires when competing. This is the main
reason why I chose Apple's HD rebuilds (NFI here, just my opinion).
If you really have some time to burn, run a search in the Triumph Archives.
There is a lot of good information on shocks there.
Good luck!
Wendy Hart
1975 TR6
1976 TR7
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gregory Damron" <dogaboodogs3@hotmail.com>
To: <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2000 2:22 PM
Subject: rear shock conversions
>
> Hello List,
> I've been on the list for about 2 weeks and I'm really enjoying it.
> At the risk of offending those who believe in keeping their cars
absolutely
> stock, I'm considering a tube shock conversion for my TR6. My lever
shocks
> are shot. I've tried to revive them and haven't been successful. The
local
> Moss distributor says they won't sell rebuilt ones because they fail
rapidly
> (maybe they also make a lot more money on new ones). There seem to be 3
> basic designs of these conversions: 1 has a 3 piece bracket (Vic. Brit
and
> Moss), and 1 of them from Vic. Brit. has a 1 piece bracket. This latter
kit
> comes with KYB shocks and the others are available with Koni, Spax or
> Monroe. Has anyone tried one of these kits?
>
>
> Greg Damron
> 1969 Rover 2000 SC
> 1970 GT6+
> 1972 Jag XJ6
> 1973 TR6
>
> _________________________________________________________________________
>
>
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