412 Chock absorbers

Milosak_1 · Post by **Milosak_1** » 11th December 2008 - 1:46pm

Does anybody know, which kind of chock absorbers fit to 412 ?
Does anybody have experience with replacement ?
Can somebody give me some web links for it ?

Thanks for help !

shawn71 · Post by **shawn71** » 11th December 2008 - 4:54pm

Are you looking to do front or rear of the car?

Had fun and games finding some for my 1972 412 Variant and gave up.

In the end I had to have some alterations done to use other shocks.

I'll have a look through my e-mails over the next day or so and see if I still have the part numbers and details.

squareback simon · Post by **squareback simon** » 11th December 2008 - 8:13pm

fronts are available from :

http://www.bughaus.com/type427.htm

hope that helps

shawn71 · Post by **shawn71** » 11th December 2008 - 8:40pm

Couldn't see any Type 4 front inserts there squareback simon.

In the end I gave up looking, however did find one place that claimed to have some NOS ones but he wanted £180 each and they had been sat around for years. Didn't want to chance dodgy perished seals so opted for a pair of Audi 80 GR-2 front shocks that required an extension adaptor to make them fit as tyhey about 4 inches too short.

So far, 6 months down the line, the 412 drives very nicely on them.

The rear shocks are from the front end of a 1980s Ford Econoline 3/4 tonne van. They are gas and give a good ride quality.

squareback simon · Post by **squareback simon** » 11th December 2008 - 9:06pm

sorry thought you meant steering damper. Try his:

http://www.vw-auto-parts-wholesale.com/ ... gen&md=411

Milosak_1 · Post by **Milosak_1** » 15th December 2008 - 1:16pm

I'm searching for the front one. Guess with rear shouldn't be a problem.

shawn71 · Post by **shawn71** » 15th December 2008 - 6:20pm

Even the rear ones are hard to find. There are some oil filled ones around but they are not firm enough for the Variant.

Milosak_1 · Post by **Milosak_1** » 16th December 2008 - 4:38pm

I predicted will not be easy, therefore I allready contact some Chock absorbers refurlbish company. They told me, that they can refurbish any chock absorber, just to bring them old one. They will change valves, rubbers and oil, clean from rost out/in side and paint from outside whith colour which you choose. Also they offer how hard absorbers you want.
This company is specialised for adjustment of race chock absorbers. They are not cheep, but on the end you will have very good absorbers. Warranty is 3 years or 50.000 Km.
Sounds good, but will see result and feedback. Whet will be finished and installed, I'll put here some pictures.

Cheers

Lahti411 · Post by **Lahti411** » 27th December 2008 - 3:41pm

Shawn, do you think the 3/4 tonne Econoline shocks are in good balance with the front shocks? I'm going to replace my 411's rear shocks but I'm not sure if I should order 1/2 or 3/4 tonne front shocks. I wouldn't want the rear to be too hard compared with the front. I'm using Audi 80 cartridges in the front.

shawn71 · Post by **shawn71** » 27th December 2008 - 5:01pm

Hi Lahti 411

I find them to be a good ride and in my opinion well balanced to the front end. They might be a tad too firm for some peoples taste but for what I throw in the back of my 412 they do not feel unsafe.

The only thing that may be a problem is the lower mount on the shock is to narrow, total of 20mm approx. I packed out with some washers to remove any free play and it seems fine.

Lahti411 · Post by **Lahti411** » 27th December 2008 - 8:34pm

Ok, it's always nice to hear these things from someone who's actually using these cars... I guess I'll buy the 1/2 tonne shocks then as I'm not using the rear boot that much.

Thanks!

Post by **Editor** » 28th December 2008 - 1:10pm

Is the 1/2 tonne rating for a pair or each one? If it's for a pair, they might be a bit light for the back of a Type 4 at over a tonne unladen, considering it has around 60% of the body weight on the rear.

Lahti411 · Post by **Lahti411** » 28th December 2008 - 1:35pm

These are front shocks ment for Ford Econoline Van. These Vans are huge with V8 engines so both of these shocks can handle the heavy tail of a type-4.

1/2 tonne and 3/4 tonne are model types for the Econoline meaning the cargo weight they can carry. The 1/2 tonne Econoline front shocks are exactly the same in valving as the original type-4 rear shocks. Only the bottom mount will need extra bushings to fit perfect in a type-4.

I asked Shawn his opinion about the harder 3/4 tonne van shocks as I don't trust Americans when judgin soft/hard suspension. There has been a lot of discussion about these shocks in shoptalkforums.com but that's an American site and I wanted to have an European opinion

. So if Shawn thinks 3/4 tonne shocks are hard and good for towing and other heavy use, then i think the 1/2 tonne shocks might be best for me.

shawn71 · Post by **shawn71** » 28th December 2008 - 1:56pm

I tow a small caravan with mine and load the boot and front end up when we go away with the kids. With the 3/4 tonne shocks it handles well with no rear end wallowing or feeling of "oh my god, it's too much inside the car". Therefore for my use these shocks are well matched.

The Audi 80 front shocks when paired with these ones give a very smooth ride as well.

Lahti411 · Post by **Lahti411** » 30th December 2008 - 2:00pm

I thought this over and desided to buy 3/4 tonne front shock for the rear of my 411 Variant. I read from the shoptalkforums.com that the original shocks (which are the same as 1/2 tonne shocks) are slightly too soft for the heavy tail of a 411/412 so I desided to upgrade the shocks.

Milosak_1 · Post by **Milosak_1** » 2nd June 2009 - 8:13am

I still can't import pictures, will be good if someone can put this pictures here.

However -> completely refurbish in Czech from my old one. Small company which are producing racing shock absorbers. Price was cca 90 EUR/piece. Result is fantastic ! Performance better than I expected.

http://www.flat4.org/galerie/albums/use ... -_Copy.JPG
http://www.flat4.org/galerie/albums/use ... -_Copy.JPG
http://www.flat4.org/galerie/albums/use ... -_Copy.JPG
Installation
http://www.flat4.org/galerie/albums/use ... G_6049.jpg
http://www.flat4.org/galerie/albums/use ... G_6050.jpg
http://www.flat4.org/galerie/albums/use ... G_6057.jpg

Post by **Editor** » 2nd June 2009 - 10:19am

I've had a look at the pictures, and I can't find a way of getting them to display automatically. The Img tag simply isn't accepted for some reason. Anyway, the links work fine.

Well done finding somewhere to get the work done.

TYPE IV estate · Post by **TYPE IV estate** » 28th July 2009 - 7:23pm

Which years ford econoline shocks fit which years of type 4? Thanks.

MikeyB · Post by **MikeyB** » 29th July 2009 - 10:17am

[quote="Milosak_1"]I still can't import pictures, will be good if someone can put this pictures here.

I've had a go and here they are:

Installation

shawn71 · Post by **shawn71** » 29th July 2009 - 11:22am

TYPE IV estate wrote:Which years ford econoline shocks fit which years of type 4? Thanks.

Strangely enough it is the FRONT shocks from a Ford Econoline '75-'91 van for the REAR of all our Type 4 Variants. Either the 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton version will do. I have used the Sachs 3/4 ton shocks that were £60 for the pair and they work well.

The length is identical as is the valving. The big difference is the lower mount is narrower and will need a few washers either side of it to make it fit.

I did have a part number somewhere but can't seem to find at the moment.

Milosak_1 · Post by **Milosak_1** » 1st March 2010 - 7:16pm

Can you share with us what is the part number of rear Sachs ?

shawn71 · Post by **shawn71** » 1st March 2010 - 8:46pm

Still can't find the part number, sorry, but I've found a picture

as you can see they are slightly different to look at but with a few washers either side of the lower mount they fit and work extremely well and the plastic cover from the front beetle shocks fit well as a dust cover for the top exposed piston.

When ordering just remember that it is the front shocks you are asking for that fit a Ford Econoline Van.

bb412 · Post by **bb412** » 5th May 2010 - 6:23pm

ON MY CAR,,412-73-WAGON,,i have new set of ,,nos ,,front shock,, and for the rear i have ,,,monroe 59554,, low gas charge,, for the 1/2 tons,gm,f150 ,,78-79 only ,,and they work very well,, 2 or 4 people in the car,,

rickycox · Post by **rickycox** » 28th November 2010 - 6:54pm

Has anyone got a part code / web link for rear shocks available in the U.K please ?

shawn71 · Post by **shawn71** » 28th November 2010 - 7:09pm

rickycox wrote:Has anyone got a part code / web link for rear shocks available in the U.K please ?

You'll be lucky!

I fitted some Ford Econoline 3/4 ton front van shocks to the rear of my 412 a couple of years ago. They work great, same valving, a little firmer, same external dimensions as the stock ones but they do need a stack of washers either side of the lower mount to make them fit properly. (See pic earlier in thread.)

I did find some NoS ones somewhere but they were oil filled not gas so are wrong for the Variant as they are too soft.

PS I found them through one of the many American car part suppliers in the UK, can't remember which one though...sorry.

412 Chock absorbers

412 Chock absorbers

which years?

Re: which years?

Re: 412 Chock absorbers

Re: 412 Chock absorbers

Re: 412 Chock absorbers