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Rambler/Nash Rambler shock absorber

01 mar 2023

new 08 jan 2021

The shock absorber on 1958 to 1963 Rambler Americans, and the Nash Ramblers it is based upon back to 1950, is unique to the car and not available from retail auto parts stores. Nearly every early American I see has a parts-store shock installed with a 1/2" diameter bolt through the lower arm retaining it. This is a disaster -- the lower shock mount is a critical suspension component that stiffens the lower arm. Without that stiffener installed braking, steeering and pothole forces bend the outer ends of the control arm, distort the holes that the trunnion caps thread into and ruin the lower arms. Usable control arms are becoming scarce. Out of the many I pack-ratted over the years upon close inspection about half of the lower control arm parts were reusable. Only one of those cars had the stiffeners installed.

Rambler original shock absorber

Length is measured from the center of the lower eye to the base of the stud where the cupped washer sits.

A-1 Shock Absorber Company

A-1 Shock Absorber Company, website Shocks2Springs.com currently (February 2023) has correct-fit replacement shocks. They appear to be modified Monroe/Gabriel 738079, aka 81675 (1986..1995 Suzuki Samurai; but has different lower mount).

Thanks to Sean Crane for finding this part and providing dimension data and photograph! Its dimensions are, measured from center of the eye to the bottom of the lower washer on the stud ("shortest"):

These measurements match the dimensions given in the 2006 Gabriel catalog for 81675.

Rambler original stiffener/spacer part

I have only one half of the stiffener/spacer set, but that is sufficient for measurements since two of these identical parts are used.

Galvin's AMC Rambler Parts kit

Galvin's AMC Rambler Parts sells this kit, shown below, that replaces the spacer and bolt. Its overall length exceeds the original, but it's carefully made, and I will eventually contact them to ask.

You may have trouble installing the spacer if the factory-type spacer was not installed, as the likelihood of the mounting location being the correct width are probably slim.

My lower arm stiffener/spacer

Since the shock mount duty has been removed my new spacer can be much larger in diameter, and spread the forces involved over much larger arm area.

My replacement stiffener/spacer is 1.375" diameter, with a 5/8" hole. The original part was 3/4" diameter. Adequate, but also a compromise to allow it to be used as shock-eye mount. Mine's stiffer, spreads the load to more arm area. The photo below has the OEM part next to it for comparison.

You may have trouble installing the spacer if the factory-type spacer was not installed, as the likelihood of the mounting location being the correct width are probably slim.

Installation

It should be obvious to you that any work you do on your car is your responsibility, no one elses, and certainly not mine. This is not advice, or a repair how-to. Automobile front suspensions are subtle, and this one more than most. If you think I am responsible for your results in any way, no matter how remote, stop now, this page does not apply to you.

This is an operation that must be done on the bench. This stiffener cannot be installed on-car, unless the gap between the two mounting flats between the arms is exactly correct, which is extremely unlikely if the spacer isn't now in there.

Please refer to the assembly sequence on the lower control arm page.

Modern shock mount

The lower shock mount is easy to install. You must have a stiffener/spacer installed. The factory system is fine, Galvin's AMC Rambler Parts replacement, or one you make.

The shock mount drops into place and is attached by two short 3/8-NC bolts, bolts inside, nuts outside. Tighten the two nuts (20 ft/lbs).

You may find it easier to install the shock by removing the lower bracket.

On my car I measure 14 inches between the shock mount holes with the suspension at full droop, and about 10.5 inches at full compression. The shock absorber should not limit travel in either direction. The OEM shock exceeds both, to no surprise.

Note also that shock absorber part extended and compressed measurements are from stud shoulder to stud shoulder (for fronts), and do not take into account the thickness of the rubber shock cushions. Each is about 1/2", increasing compression and extension numbers by one inch.

Here are drawings and metal stock cutting information if you want to make your own.

Shock absorber

I used Gabriel 81270 for years. The KG5514 part is monotube design, and is now my preferred part, or the slightly cheaper Excel-G 343137. The extended and collapsed measurements were taken from a PDF catalog or other online sources, except the original 3202200 whch I measured myself.

About shock absorber applications and part numbers

Parts for cars like ours aew not high volume items, and rather than manufacture and stock a wide variety of subtly different parts, the aftermarket likes to "collapse" similar parts into a single part in the catalog. A good example here are KG5514 and KG5517. Both claim application or fitment for the same car, and appear to share all specifications except the two length specs.

I used the KG5517 part before I knew of the KG5514 part. By strict measurement it seems possible to bottom the shock but in practice the spring is never zero height. This seems to be a clear decision to collapse the catalog, maybe after stock or orders for one part slows sufficiently, it will be superceded by the other. Luckily here there is sufficient choice, and likely others, I stopped looking. Other parts, like suspension bushings, we're not so lucky, where catalogs list parts that simply do not fit and do not work.

Also I specifically sought out shock absorbers from cars lighter than the American. Modern cars have stiffer suspensions and seem to have stiffer shocks, and my early experiments using shocks from what I thought were comparible cars (by weight) were not good -- too-stiff shocks transmit road impulses (potholes, etc) right into the chassis and the seat of your pants. These older cars are softly sprung, with longer suspension travel for older, worse roadways. Shock absorbers exist to dampen spring oscillations, and a stiffer shock does not improve anything.

Installation photos

Here's one installed on the passenger side of my '61 Rambler Roadster.