How To: Shocks in under an hour.

I built some shocks for one of my cars and thought I would put a tutorial together while I was making them. As long as it helps one person I will be happy.

You will need 3/32" dia. and .060" dia. tube along with some 24 ga. wire to complete these shocks.

http://img252.echo.cx/img252/9936/s11sj.jpg

First, mark and cut two pieces of the 3/32" dia. tube to the desired length. For my model, I thought I would use 3/8". These will be used as the bodies of the shocks.

http://img252.echo.cx/img252/5931/s21an.jpg

Next, mark and cut two pieces of the .060" tube. This time, add 1/16" to your previous lengths from step one. These will be used as the shock "rods".

http://img252.echo.cx/img252/7962/s32qc.jpg

Now, mark and cut four pieces of 3/32" dia. tube at 1/16" of an inch. These will become the shock mouting pieces.

http://img252.echo.cx/img252/5760/s45bv.jpg

So far you should have eight pieces. Two shock bodies, two shock "rods", and four mounting pieces.

http://img252.echo.cx/img252/5010/s55bh.jpg

Glue one of the mounting pieces to the to of one of the shock bodies. Glue another mounting piece to the top of the shock "rods". Repeat for the remaining pieces.

http://img252.echo.cx/img252/7977/s61hu.jpg

Now, cut a length of wire and wind it around a spare piece of 3/32" tubing. Don't wrap it too tightly, otherwise after you paint the shock body, you won't be able to slide the spring in place without scratching the paint.

http://img252.echo.cx/img252/8291/s75eo.jpg

Cut the springs to the desired length.

http://img252.echo.cx/img252/3372/s81nb.jpg

Paint you shocks your desired colors. For this tutorial, I painted the bodies black and the rods aluminum. All that is left to do is to slide the spring over the body. Then, insert the shock rod into the shock body.

http://img252.echo.cx/img252/9590/s96rq.jpg

There you go. Simple shocks in under an hour.

Brilliant! Thanks!

Hey thanks, I was going to do the same thing, but I ran out of rods and havent gotten anymore yet. Great tut though...

Great tutorial... just wish my hobby shop had specific diameters of styrene tube so I could do it :(

nice!

Evergreen sells a tube and rod assortment pak that contains one each of 6 or 7 different sizes. It's perfect for lots of little projects like this.
:p

nasTone-

Nice tutorial. You can also substitute polished wire for the shock shafts, to save from having to paint them. And wrapping the spring wire around a wood or sheet-metal screw can help you get perfect spacing for the coils.

tigeraid-
What does your LHS have? I'm sure they can order whatever you need, if you get the part number.

Thanks for the tips Steve. Your method of winding the springs would save a lot of time.

nasTone-

Nice tutorial. You can also substitute polished wire for the shock shafts, to save from having to paint them. And wrapping the spring wire around a wood or sheet-metal screw can help you get perfect spacing for the coils.

tigeraid-
What does your LHS have? I'm sure they can order whatever you need, if you get the part number.

Well I actually have the Evergreen variety pack full of all sorts of good stuff, but it doesn't have tubes that small. Lots of SQUARE stock that small, but no tubes...

Short, sweet and to the point good job will give it a try.

sweeeeeeeeeet!! U get a lemon to suck b/c ur awesome!!

Added to the list! Thanks! :wave: