Broken rear shock support

1941 - 1945, MB, GPW Technical questions and discussions, regarding anything related to the WWII jeep.
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David V
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Broken rear shock support

Post by David V » Wed Jul 01, 2020 4:32 am

Well I've been hearing a big knocking noise recently and it's taken a while to find out the cause.
But today I found the right hand side rear shock support was snapped. Rusted through.
I've probably been riding around for a month like this !

Is this a body off job ?

Do you think it's possible to weld another support on without taking the body off.
I haven't taken the shock off yet to look behind it and to see where it's welded. Both sides no ?

David
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Re: Broken rear shock support

Post by m3bobby » Thu Jul 02, 2020 3:41 am

I’d consider cleaning the area and rewelding it. It looks like the weld failed. In the UK there are mobile welders who can come to you if you don’t have a machine. I think it’s a pretty straight forward fix and certainly not body off.
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Re: Broken rear shock support

Post by David V » Thu Jul 02, 2020 3:59 am

I'm going to check it out later today.
Take off the wheel and the shock to see what's going on.
We'll see !
Anything to avoid taking the body off.
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Re: Broken rear shock support

Post by David V » Thu Jul 02, 2020 7:27 am

Took off the shock today. It was already just hanging there like a broken limb. Jeep naturally didn't move at all.

So the support is rusted through and I see signs of previously welding repairs.
I've sourced a replacement support - it's amazing what's available for these cars.

My jeep's in a lockup garage at the moment without electricity so I will have to move it to work on.

I reckon I have ridden like this for a month so I'm guessing that I could ride the half-mile to my home no problem ?
I can clearly axle grind the area and prepare for welding but I'll have to find someone with an elevator to have good acces to the chassis underneath.

So do you think I could have damaged the springs with the shock not doing it's job ? How much weight does the shock carry ?

I can see how the support is welded on the outer triangular part. But is the other longer part inside welded to the chassis ?

David
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IMG_2319.jpg
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IMG_2315.jpg
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Re: Broken rear shock support

Post by Marty, SoCal » Fri Jul 03, 2020 1:53 pm

The shock does not support any weight from the vehicle. It just dampens suspension movement. Very unlikely it damaged anything besides the mount and maybe the shock itself if it bent snagging on something.

Remove the shock completely, if not already done before you drive it. You probably won't notice a lot of difference with it off on the street.

If the body needs to be lifted for better access, it's not that hard to lift just one side. Remove all the body to frame bolts, including the grille except for the ones on the other side, just loosen them. Remove the floor shifter cover. Loosen the steering gear to frame bolts and remove the clamp where it straps to the dash and remove the cover at the floor plate. Also, remove the brake and clutch pedals and disconnect the throttle rod from the pedal, if the broken shock is on the driver's side. With a high lift jack or other tall jack and a section of board under the body on the side you need to lift, jack it up until you get the needed clearance. Check for any wiring or cables that are getting too tight, but normally there is enough slack for a few inches of lift. Put some wood blocks on top of the frame in a couple areas to hold the body clear and lower it to rest on the blocks. 3 or 4 inches (100mm) should be enough room to weld the new one on a bit easier.
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Re: Broken rear shock support

Post by m3bobby » Sat Jul 04, 2020 6:11 am

Those new photos show it to be a lot worse than I thought. What’s with the chunk of missing rail and has it got some weld or extra metal on the rail?
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Re: Broken rear shock support

Post by David V » Sat Jul 04, 2020 6:17 am

I can see that it’s been rewelded in the past.
I found a local garage that will look at it next week. I’ve bought a new support but the body worker thinks it might be easier to put back on the old one.
We’ll see.
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Re: Broken rear shock support

Post by David V » Fri Jul 10, 2020 5:40 am

Well my welder says he can’t get his Mig in there without lifting the body. At least 10cm. I can see I’ll have to take it off to get it done well. Wasn’t my plan...
As it’s rear passenger side, maybe I could tilt the body forward ?
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Re: Broken rear shock support

Post by Marty, SoCal » Fri Jul 10, 2020 6:06 am

See my post above, it will lift up enough pretty easily
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Re: Broken rear shock support

Post by David V » Fri Jul 10, 2020 6:15 am

I saw the post but I was wondering if instead of lifting the whole body up, I could "just" tilt it forwards. Just lifting the back up.
You were talking about lifting one side.
I would probably have to take the fenders off ?
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Re: Broken rear shock support

Post by Marty, SoCal » Fri Jul 10, 2020 8:06 am

Nope, just remove the bolts to the frame on the side and front. Loosen the ones on the other side.
43 Ford GPW 92098
53 Dunbar Kapple M100
Sold: 61 CJ-5, 41 T207 WC-1 Dodge closed cab pickup
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Re: Broken rear shock support

Post by m3bobby » Fri Jul 10, 2020 8:55 am

If it was me, I’d remove the old parts with the grinder and fit the new one. No need to lift the tub then. It looks very corroded so how long would re-welding last?
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Re: Broken rear shock support

Post by David V » Wed Mar 03, 2021 9:40 am

Thought I'd keep you posted with my rear shock problem.
Finally decided that it was time to take the body off to weld a new shock bracket.
There was no other way. So last week being a calm, I got my jeep buddies around and we took the body off or rather shifted it to the side.
20 years ago, it seemed much lighter to lift...

Anyway it's looking good and has new shocks too. So I'm a happy bunny.

David V
Attachments
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Re: Broken rear shock support

Post by ppinotti » Thu Mar 04, 2021 9:32 am

Friends,

I had the same problem in my GPW, I removed the broken shock absorber bracket of the right side and put a new without removing the body. And I could weld ( a welder specialisty, not me) the rear part of the bracket on the chassi. I did not use rivets, fixed with iron bolts and nuts.

The work to remove the original rivets took a long time, working under the jeep is not easy, a lot of patience and pain. I restored the original bracket and stored it.

Now two years after the change, I had no problems. I check the nuts and bolts if are tied, some times.

Of course the difference between the two brackets, made more easy my change, MB bracket is all welded. I think there was no other solution but remove the body

At least 73 years rolling, one day this can happens!

Best wishes
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Suporte_amortecedor4.jpg
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Re: Broken rear shock support

Post by Michael_G » Fri Mar 05, 2021 7:55 am

Great repairs! Keep em rollin!

-Michael


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