Do any of you guys make your own shocks out of brass tubing?

[philo426]

I don't really like the plastic shocks in car kits due to the troublesome seam.I was thinking of making the rear shocks on my current '60 Ford project out of brass tubing.Anyone ever try it?

[cartpix]

I have built coil over shocks, with aluminum tubing. I use the brass rod, that fits into the smallest aluminum tube, into the next size tube, etc., until I get the size, I want, for the shock body & leave the rod long to trim, to length later. Then I cut a sliver of the next size, for the bottom of the spring to sit. I use the same tube, into tube method, of all the sizes to make the top. The rod ends are HO scale hand rail stantions, I bought, years ago. I wound the springs with phone wire.

Edited April 9, 2014 by cartpix

[pharoah]

I've built shocks and hydraulic rams from Plastruc tubing. Never tried brass,although I would like to someday.

[philo426]

Cool! i will give it a try!

[blunc]

I used brass before I found aluminum tubing was easier to work with.

[robertw]

I've never made working ones but have often cut off the plastic coils because of the heavy and hard to sand off casting lines. I then wind my own coils from whatever wire looks like it would look best. Rather then brass I use aluminum because it is easier to cut.

[philo426]

I use a reinforced cut off wheel in my Dremel so the brass is easy to cut.

[Erik Smith]

Yes. It's very easy. I use brass becuase it is thinner than aluminum.

This one:

is on a '66 Riviera. It is a brass tube with a styrene rod inserted, two styrene rod sections glued to each end (taper the ends), and a PE bolt. Easy and looks way better than a kit shock.

Now, if somebody would actually look under one of my models...

[philo426]

Looks great!