1961 Fleetwood - ride seems harsh in the rear

[Dan LeBlanc]

I may try the Pleasurizers and see what happens. It's not like its a big job anyway. If I don't like them, then I'll try a gas charged. I'm trying to keep the ride as authentic as possible and from the research I've been doing, Pleasurizers sound like a good shock.

[Jon S]

Dan -

Pleasurizers were GM's attempt to re-gain shock market share and were not great.  Monroe controlled the replacement market and Gabrial was next.  There were "performance" shocks also.  I've had the Monroe Sensa-trac's on for 20+ years and they are still great.

[Dan LeBlanc]

I pulled the rear shocks tonight. The passenger side was nice and wet with fresh oil. The drivers side looks like it barfed out its oil sometime before the car was retired in 1977 judging by how tarry the oil is on the outside.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

Pleasurizers were GM's attempt to re-gain shock market share...

...in hopes of regaining their stock market share? 

Couldn't resist...

[Dan LeBlanc]

Just for kicks, I put the pleasurizers on tonight.  The driver's side was caked with a tar-like substance, presumably the oil that leaked out when Carter was president.  The passenger side was wet with fresh oil.

I must say, I'm impressed with the pleasurizers.  The ride quality is fantastic.

So, I checked the fronts.  The driver's side is soaked with fresh oil.  They've obviously blown their seals since I had the car on the hoist 200 miles ago.   At least I'm finding it out now.

New front Gabriels are on the way.  I'll have to paint them gold to match the rear pleasurizers.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

Any particular reason for the different shocks on front Dan?

Just curious.

Glad to hear you've got the ride problem solved.

[Dan LeBlanc]

Any particular reason for the different shocks on front Dan?

Just curious.

Glad to hear you've got the ride problem solved.

I've been looking for front pleasurizers to match the rear for almost 6 months now and will continue to do so. For now the fronts are leaking badly so until I find pleasurizers or get the originals rebuilt, they'll have to do.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

I hadn't realized the fronts were so difficult to find - I do now.

At least the immediate problem has been sorted.

[Dan LeBlanc]

My thought is they're scarce because they also interchange with 65-69 Corvair where the rear are Cadillac and 55-56 Ford. Who would buy a Delco shock for their Ford but a Corvair is another story.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

I'd also imagine the fronts wear out faster than rears. 

[936CD69]

Dan,

I have a  good friend who has many NOS Corvair parts, if you have the part number handy I'd be glad to check with him for possible stock......

Craig

[Dan LeBlanc]

Craig

I wish I had the part number so that I'd have more search options. Unfortunately, I don't

Information on Pleasurizers seems to be rather obscure.

[Dan LeBlanc]

Changed the front shocks Thursday evening and went for a drive tonight.  The car doesn't feel like I'm riding a beached whale anymore.  Nice, smooth, controlled ride.  Just the way it should be.

Now just to get the bias ply tires balanced again. 

I luckily have another set of rims that I picked up from my parts car today.  I'm going to have my old tires taken off, and my backup set of radials put on.  That way I can run those and just put the bias on for judging.

Never saw this before - the spare from my parts car is a metric bias ply tire - P235/75B/15