After I put shocks on my '64 Dart, I replaced my rear springs. Now I'm getting a creaking noise from the rear passenger side of the car (which looks like it's coming from the shock) and that side of the car is also about an inch to high. I've looked at the spring and the perches, and nothing seems to be out of order there. Could the shock be bad? I know nothing. help me.

-josh

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64 Dart 170 /6

Are they air shocks or regular. If their air maybe one's over filled? Other than that from someone else that knows nothing I could only think of
1) over tightened something
2) It's installed wrong
3) it is defective
4) Try and to take a look at all things around shocks that are connected to something else to see if the creak is not something else.

You've probably thought of all these but figured I might as well try to help

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My car may be slow to sixty, but at least it's been reliably slow to sixty for more than thirty years.

They're Monroe Shocks. I don't think they're adjustable. I'll check to see if something's overtightened, but I'm doubtful that that is the case. I'm going to assume that the shock is faulty, but I want to know if this is something a bad shock does...or if there's something that I just would think of. So far, all I've done was checked to make sure it was installed correctly, listened to it closely, stared at it intently, then cursed profusely. I will now end my barrage of adverbs.

-josh

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64 Dart 170 /6

Are the shocks the same? (Length extended and compressed?) I wouldn't put it past a parts counter guy to grab the wrong box....

-S/6

Monroe...say no more. They make them over here, and I have had a couple of problems with them personally, and have heard lots of horror stories.
How about a strut insert that is 1/8" too short for the tube it is supposed to sit in, and that Monroe were the OEM for the car??? And how about, after three other people I know of contacting them to tell them this, they are still making them that way.....I had to weld extra metal onto the strut nut to fix that, after pulling my hair out for months trying to find the rattles and camber changes on my new front end.
I won't even mention how their supposed "sports" gas shocks fade after an hour on the freeway....
Refunds or exchanges are not company policy either.

Regards, Andrew.

I've seen shocks/struts seize up where they won't even allow the suspension to move! Most were very old OEM stuff, but a new defect wouldn't be a shock(get it?). I heartily recommend a set of 4 KYB shocks - you won't be disappointed.

Ugh...I guess I should have just paid the few extra dollars and gotten the KYB's to begin with. So much for trying to actually save any money. Oh well, lesson learned, I suppose. Thanks for all the help.

-josh

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64 Dart 170 /6

I just re-read your initial post. Did the trouble start after you replaced the shocks or the springs? If the shocks were ok before the new springs went in, they might be ok. Are these new springs or used? Did their arch look the same before installation? Mismatched or sagging springs will make the car sit funny. Are the axle u-bolts installed/tightened correctly and evenly? Is the alignment pin in it's hole (axle sitting flat on the spring)? How did the eye bushings look? Are the springs centered in the front bracket or up against the side? Is the exhaust hitting the shock? You probably checked this stuff already, but I'm just throwing it out there. If you can use a stethoscope (big screwdriver held to your ear) against various bushings and the shock, you may be able to narrow down the source. And hey, even with a squeak, it's still better than these new cars!

Monroe SUCKS!

OEM Motorcraft shocks for my Lincoln, piston rod snapped off one shock after less than 10,000 miles of use. Garbage.

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I've been calling it as i see it for my entire life and that's not about to change. Take it or leave it.

Hey hey now, don't be killin' on monroe too hard-- they make some great circle track shocks!
At any rate, my guess on the creak would be one of two things:
improper torque setting (too tight)
or defective shock

Also, if you replaced the springs did you torque the spring eye bolt with the car up in the air or on the ground? Are the hangar and shackle bolts tight?

Just taking shots in the dark--

-JYH

You just wounded me. I was hiding behind that bush to your left...

Lou

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