Rear Shocks

[Jim Harding]

My car has finally convinced me that it needs a set of new rear shocks. Usually a simple process, but first you have to know what you need before you talk to the counterman.

I'd like to go the Carrera coil over route from Unique, but in all honesty, because the car is just a driver and not raced, I don't feel I need that caliber of shock..... not to mention with Christmas around the corner, I'd better spend my cash on the better half..... insurance for the coming year!!!

So, what OEM shock do I order. Did Unique use shocks that were OEM units for the XKE or the XJ? Anyone have a favorite shock? I've found that Woodhead is susposed to be an OEM replacement but don't know which modle to order.

No hurry on your responces..... I'm off to enjoy a turkey dinner.

Have a great Thanksgiving holiday everyone.

- Jim -

[JerryBP]

If you have Jag shock/spring setup theyare likely Woodhead,
If you have or borrow a spring compressor you can easly replace the shocks only.

the best place I have found for Jag parts is Welsh Enterprises Inc.
www.welshent.com in Stubenville,OH
Go to their website and click on catalogs, XJS, rear suspension, scrole down to shocks, Part Number C-29444-K hope this helps Jerry

Work in Progress, Unique 427-9429 400+hp 351C Tremec 3550 5spd Coal Black
by Bruce, Greg & Jerry Porter Caldwell, Ohio

[JerryBP]

If you have Jag shock/spring setup theyare likely Woodhead,
If you have or borrow a spring compressor you can easly replace the shocks only.

the best place I have found for Jag parts is Welsh Enterprises Inc.
www.welshent.com in Stubenville,OH
Go to their website and click on catalogs, XJS, rear suspension, scrole down to shocks, Part Number C-29444-K hope this helps Jerry

Work in Progress, Unique 427-9429 400+hp 351C Tremec 3550 5spd Coal Black
by Bruce, Greg & Jerry Porter Caldwell, Ohio

[Jim Harding]

Thanks Jerry, I'll check them out.

Was your suggestion to use the XJS shock over an XKE your choice or something you have other knowledge about? My thinking is the XKE is probably lighter than the XJS and therefore more in line with the weight of our cars.

I also found a site (speedwaymotors.com) that has Carrera coil overs for just $134.95 each. About half as much as I've seen at other places..... dedissions.... decissions...

Jim Harding
La Plata, Maryland

http://www.capitalareacobraclub.com/albums/album26/1aLeftside.thumb.jpg

[Jim Harding]

Thanks Jerry, I'll check them out.

Was your suggestion to use the XJS shock over an XKE your choice or something you have other knowledge about? My thinking is the XKE is probably lighter than the XJS and therefore more in line with the weight of our cars.

I also found a site (speedwaymotors.com) that has Carrera coil overs for just $134.95 each. About half as much as I've seen at other places..... dedissions.... decissions...

Jim Harding
La Plata, Maryland

http://www.capitalareacobraclub.com/albums/album26/1aLeftside.thumb.jpg

[JerryBP]

As far as I know they are the same shocks but it easer to find a listing for the XJS as it was built thru 1996.
We decided to go with Aldon Eagle shocks for our car as they are aluminum, adjustable (by turning a knob) and rebuildable, got 6 with springs for $850.oo including shipping.

Work in Progress, Unique 427-9429 400+hp 351C Tremec 3550 5spd Coal Black
by Bruce, Greg & Jerry Porter Caldwell, Ohio

[JerryBP]

As far as I know they are the same shocks but it easer to find a listing for the XJS as it was built thru 1996.
We decided to go with Aldon Eagle shocks for our car as they are aluminum, adjustable (by turning a knob) and rebuildable, got 6 with springs for $850.oo including shipping.

Work in Progress, Unique 427-9429 400+hp 351C Tremec 3550 5spd Coal Black
by Bruce, Greg & Jerry Porter Caldwell, Ohio

[GeorgiaSnake]

Jim something sounds wrong with the $135 ($540 set) sounds way low. The Carrera website list them at about $895 when you add up all of the parts needed.

Randy



Unique 289 FIA
Southern Automotive 396
Team III 16's
Brilliant Silver

[GeorgiaSnake]

Jim something sounds wrong with the $135 ($540 set) sounds way low. The Carrera website list them at about $895 when you add up all of the parts needed.

Randy



Unique 289 FIA
Southern Automotive 396
Team III 16's
Brilliant Silver

[Brent]

If I were to replace the shocks on my car it would not be Carrera. They are a chrome Gabriel nothing more. I have sent two back to the manufacturer due to leaking fluid. The adjustment mech. is non-positive and the heim ends are very sticky. I think they are JUNK. They are NOT 850.00 shocks. I took mine to AFCO Racing products and had them put on the shock dyno and all four were different.
FYI

Brent

[Brent]

If I were to replace the shocks on my car it would not be Carrera. They are a chrome Gabriel nothing more. I have sent two back to the manufacturer due to leaking fluid. The adjustment mech. is non-positive and the heim ends are very sticky. I think they are JUNK. They are NOT 850.00 shocks. I took mine to AFCO Racing products and had them put on the shock dyno and all four were different.
FYI

Brent

[Jim Harding]

Randy,

I thought the same thing...... go to the site below and see for yourself.... maybe I'm missing something[:I]

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/xq/asp/strBase_List.%272552254%27/hilt.255%2D2254/source./base_no.2552254/str_base_no.2552254%2C/header_title.Part+Number+Search/page_name.base%5Flist%5Fdisplay%2Easp/search_type./search_option./deptsearch./dept_id./dept_id_p./dept_name./dept_name_p./ShowImages.yes/sq./cont.1/intPgNo.1/redirect./qx/product.htm

- Jim -

Jim Harding
La Plata, Maryland

http://www.capitalareacobraclub.com/albums/album26/1aLeftside.thumb.jpg

[Jim Harding]

Randy,

I thought the same thing...... go to the site below and see for yourself.... maybe I'm missing something[:I]

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/xq/asp/strBase_List.%272552254%27/hilt.255%2D2254/source./base_no.2552254/str_base_no.2552254%2C/header_title.Part+Number+Search/page_name.base%5Flist%5Fdisplay%2Easp/search_type./search_option./deptsearch./dept_id./dept_id_p./dept_name./dept_name_p./ShowImages.yes/sq./cont.1/intPgNo.1/redirect./qx/product.htm

- Jim -

Jim Harding
La Plata, Maryland

http://www.capitalareacobraclub.com/albums/album26/1aLeftside.thumb.jpg

[Jim Harding]

Brent,

Thanks for you reply. I have to admit that I have not heard a lot about the Carrera stuff.... either good or bad. I thought if they were good enough to be an option on a new car from Unique, then they were probably given a thumbs up by the Weavers..... who have a good track record at making good decisions.

It's going to be a long winter I hear.... so I have a lot of time to think this thing through:D

- Jim -

Jim Harding
La Plata, Maryland

http://www.capitalareacobraclub.com/albums/album26/1aLeftside.thumb.jpg

[Jim Harding]

Brent,

Thanks for you reply. I have to admit that I have not heard a lot about the Carrera stuff.... either good or bad. I thought if they were good enough to be an option on a new car from Unique, then they were probably given a thumbs up by the Weavers..... who have a good track record at making good decisions.

It's going to be a long winter I hear.... so I have a lot of time to think this thing through:D

- Jim -

Jim Harding
La Plata, Maryland

http://www.capitalareacobraclub.com/albums/album26/1aLeftside.thumb.jpg

[Jim Harding]

Jerry,

At first I didn't think there was much difference either, but after visiting a web site XKs Unlimited, they list different part numbers for their replacement shocks. www.xks.com

Try this link, it should take you to their shocks page.

https://store.tolosatech.com/xks/merchant.ihtml?id=294&step=2

If that don't work, go to the home page I listed above, click on 'XKs Store' and then on the 'Shocks' icon.

They seem to be very pricey, but they're one of the only sites I've found that have a ton of stuff and other info...... mostly in their catalog though.

- Jim -

Jim Harding
La Plata, Maryland

http://www.capitalareacobraclub.com/albums/album26/1aLeftside.thumb.jpg

[Jim Harding]

Jerry,

At first I didn't think there was much difference either, but after visiting a web site XKs Unlimited, they list different part numbers for their replacement shocks. www.xks.com

Try this link, it should take you to their shocks page.

https://store.tolosatech.com/xks/merchant.ihtml?id=294&step=2

If that don't work, go to the home page I listed above, click on 'XKs Store' and then on the 'Shocks' icon.

They seem to be very pricey, but they're one of the only sites I've found that have a ton of stuff and other info...... mostly in their catalog though.

- Jim -

Jim Harding
La Plata, Maryland

http://www.capitalareacobraclub.com/albums/album26/1aLeftside.thumb.jpg

[Poorboy]

The stock shock that Unique uses is a Tenneco part #LE10120. I think Tenneco owns Monroe. You might have the spring rate checked, you could have a spring that has lost its tension.

Poorboy

[Poorboy]

The stock shock that Unique uses is a Tenneco part #LE10120. I think Tenneco owns Monroe. You might have the spring rate checked, you could have a spring that has lost its tension.

Poorboy

[Jim Harding]

Poorboy,

Thanks for the lead with that part number.

I have the shocks off the car, but haven't broken down the shocks from their springs yet..... borrowing the tools tomorrow.

Ride height seems normal for the car, so I don't think I have a spring problem..... but will know better when I have them dissassembled.

- Jim -

Jim Harding
La Plata, Maryland

http://www.capitalareacobraclub.com/albums/album26/1aLeftside.thumb.jpg

[Jim Harding]

Poorboy,

Thanks for the lead with that part number.

I have the shocks off the car, but haven't broken down the shocks from their springs yet..... borrowing the tools tomorrow.

Ride height seems normal for the car, so I don't think I have a spring problem..... but will know better when I have them dissassembled.

- Jim -

Jim Harding
La Plata, Maryland

http://www.capitalareacobraclub.com/albums/album26/1aLeftside.thumb.jpg

[eliminator]

If you have regular shocks on your Unique you can't switch to a coilover shock without shorting the axles. All Uniques with Carerra's are different than the Unique's without Carrerra's. You might check on this but this is what I have been told.

Eliminator

[eliminator]

If you have regular shocks on your Unique you can't switch to a coilover shock without shorting the axles. All Uniques with Carerra's are different than the Unique's without Carrerra's. You might check on this but this is what I have been told.

Eliminator

[GeorgiaSnake]

I think that's bad info - you can make the switch.

Randy

Unique 289 FIA
Southern Automotive 396
Team III 16's
Brilliant Silver

[GeorgiaSnake]

I think that's bad info - you can make the switch.

Randy

Unique 289 FIA
Southern Automotive 396
Team III 16's
Brilliant Silver

[terryk]

That's the first time I've heard about the axle length issue. I've been trying to decide if I need to convert over to Carreras. I don't need them for performance, I won't race "baby car". My right rear will scrub when someone heavy is in the passenger seat. Weaver told me all that was probably needed was to shim the shock mounts on that side. I have put in 3/4" of shim and it will still scrub occasionally. If anyone could confirm this need for axle length changing, I would greatly appreciate it.

[terryk]

That's the first time I've heard about the axle length issue. I've been trying to decide if I need to convert over to Carreras. I don't need them for performance, I won't race "baby car". My right rear will scrub when someone heavy is in the passenger seat. Weaver told me all that was probably needed was to shim the shock mounts on that side. I have put in 3/4" of shim and it will still scrub occasionally. If anyone could confirm this need for axle length changing, I would greatly appreciate it.

[brfutbrian]

i switched mine during my build. the only difference is the lower bushing is thinner on the carrerras because its a heim joint. had to make a half inch steel bushing to make up the difference. the springs are real close to the axles but ive never had it rub yet in 5000 miles. later, brian

[brfutbrian]

i switched mine during my build. the only difference is the lower bushing is thinner on the carrerras because its a heim joint. had to make a half inch steel bushing to make up the difference. the springs are real close to the axles but ive never had it rub yet in 5000 miles. later, brian

[Joe LaFives]

JerryBP:
Do you have a part number for the Aldon Eagle shocks? Six? two for the front as well?

[Joe LaFives]

JerryBP:
Do you have a part number for the Aldon Eagle shocks? Six? two for the front as well?

[Poorboy]

The only time axle length matters is when putting Trigos on then you have to use shorter axles and have to use Carrerras because they are shorter. You can put Carrerras on one with the standard length axles.

Poorboy

[Poorboy]

The only time axle length matters is when putting Trigos on then you have to use shorter axles and have to use Carrerras because they are shorter. You can put Carrerras on one with the standard length axles.

Poorboy

[terryk]

Poorboy: OK, if I'am reading your post correctly having Trigos require having Carreras. Is that the case? I do have Trigos.

[terryk]

Poorboy: OK, if I'am reading your post correctly having Trigos require having Carreras. Is that the case? I do have Trigos.

[Poorboy]

Terry,
Yes, all cars when built that are going to use Trigos get Carrerras. The axles are shorter which brings the shock mount closer to the center and stands the shock up straighter. The shock has to be shorter to keep from raising the rear of the car.

Poorboy

[Poorboy]

Terry,
Yes, all cars when built that are going to use Trigos get Carrerras. The axles are shorter which brings the shock mount closer to the center and stands the shock up straighter. The shock has to be shorter to keep from raising the rear of the car.

Poorboy