cpc
New Member
89 Sherpa RA
Posts: 45
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Post by cpc on Jul 11, 2011 4:48:05 GMT -4
Hi folks, The rear shocks on my '89 Australian Sherpa are buggered. They have been rebuilt once and have worn out again. They are actually seizing to some degree. It makes for interesting driving around bumpy corners. The car likes to oversteer a bit Subaru Australia say the shocks are now obsolete. One of my local suspension guys can't find a matching shock for it either. Does anyone know what these shocks are the same as? Surely Subaru (KYB or whoever) didn't tool up and build shocks just for this model. The shocks are eye/eye with a t-bar through the top eye. The car is the same as a Mini Jumbo or M80, or so I've read here. Can anyone help? Thanks. Chris.
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Post by justyfied on Jul 12, 2011 0:00:37 GMT -4
Most Makes or even models seem to have some common faults and this one sounds all to familiar. Especially the bit that Subaru has made obsolete the part! I have noticed that when dealerships decide to not carry a range of parts anymore they will sell them to a small time guy, who will turn around and sell them on things like EBAY. Then there is trying to get a gently used one from a Auto recycler/wrecker. Have you heard of this one? Seems like they will do mail order! www.sleekaspares.com.au/You mentioned rebuilding, Did not know that these things were serviceable, However I have heard of this trick to extend the usefulness a little. Take the strut off, drill a hole in the top the same size as the small rubber plug that you get for this. Fill the reservoir with hydraulic oil or Automatic transmission fluid. install plug and enjoy more happy motoring till it all leaks out again. For example the original version of the Justy and the later have Very similar front struts. the only difference is where and at a slightly different angle a small metal plate for the brake hose is mounted. This gave them a different part number but they can be be crossed over! But none of this answers your question as to who made the original. Then I guess one could contact them for a cross over. It should be KYB. But they are probably under license to not sell them!
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cpc
New Member
89 Sherpa RA
Posts: 45
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Post by cpc on Jul 19, 2011 6:31:36 GMT -4
There must be loads of similar shocks, it just seems none of them were on cars sold in Australia. One of my suspension guys has been through every catalogue and can't find anything close to the length (compressed and extended) of this Sherpa rear shock.
I guess I'll just keep driving it the way it is. It seems my engine might expire before the rear end falls out of this thing anyway.
Chris.
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Post by justyfied on Aug 7, 2011 11:01:46 GMT -4
There must be loads of similar shocks, it just seems none of them were on cars sold in Australia. One of my suspension guys has been through every catalogue and can't find anything close to the length (compressed and extended) of this Sherpa rear shock. I guess I'll just keep driving it the way it is. It seems my engine might expire before the rear end falls out of this thing anyway. Chris. I just realized that the Sherpa has a rear Shock not a strut! My Bad! Means there should be any number of possibilities.
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Post by lincolntbird on Nov 10, 2012 9:00:22 GMT -4
Hi, I know this is an old topic but I have struck the same problem with my '86 Sherpa rear shocks. One of the auto parts stores that I deal with actually rang the KYB dealer & found that the Sherpa shocks are nolonger available. That was earlier this year. I also tried a local suspension specialist store & the only shocky that he could come up with that was anywhere near close was HB Holden Torana front shock. I had to send an old pair of mine over to Melbourne so that they could remove the top mount & fit it to the Torana shocky. They do work & are better than the old ones but with the weight that I carry they are still a little soft even with Mazda MX5 rear springs fitted; which did help by lifting the back end a bit. The problem is from what I can work out there is virtually nothing available in the Sherpa size. If anyone has got any other ideas it would be good tohear about them. Surely we arn't the only ones that have struck this problem.
Cheers....lincolntbird.
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Post by justyfied on Nov 10, 2012 10:13:56 GMT -4
Hi, I know this is an old topic but I have struck the same problem with my '86 Sherpa rear shocks. One of the auto parts stores that I deal with actually rang the KYB dealer & found that the Sherpa shocks are nolonger available. That was earlier this year. I also tried a local suspension specialist store & the only shocky that he could come up with that was anywhere near close was HB Holden Torana front shock. I had to send an old pair of mine over to Melbourne so that they could remove the top mount & fit it to the Torana shocky. They do work & are better than the old ones but with the weight that I carry they are still a little soft even with Mazda MX5 rear springs fitted; which did help by lifting the back end a bit. The problem is from what I can work out there is virtually nothing available in the Sherpa size. If anyone has got any other ideas it would be good tohear about them. Surely we arn't the only ones that have struck this problem. Cheers....lincolntbird. Thanks for replying to this thread, around here, this is considered a new thread... ha ha! Neat trick getting your car set up in the front, What mods if any did you have to do to use the MX5/ Miata springs in the rear? Too bad the rear shocks are not sourced out yet. Okay,I just got this idea...Maybe the problem is that we should be thinking a little outside the box and stop looking for shocks off of a car! Modern motor bikes have a single shock in the rear. they come in some compact as well robust sizes. Sure they are coil over but depending on your application, either run them with the extra spring or not. Any how, EBay should be a great source once the correct application is figured out. Then it would be a matter of making the T bar thru the top to be able to mount it.
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Post by lincolntbird on Nov 10, 2012 11:15:11 GMT -4
Hi justyfied, I have thought of the motor cycle rear shock thing but havn't gotten around to checking anything out yet. Pedders suspesion here in Australia do an after market T bar mount but it isn't long enough. The Torana front shocks were actually modified to fit the rear of the Sherpa.
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Post by lincolntbird on Nov 27, 2012 7:02:20 GMT -4
Hi folks, here are some pics of my Sherpa with the rear suspension beefed up a bit. I used a pair of rear ATV springs shortened & with the bump stops trimmed to fit inside the spring. The ATV springs are then fitted inside the main springs in a double spring set up. As you can see in the side view of the car it sits considerably higher. Will try it for a while & see how it goes. Attachments:
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Post by lincolntbird on Nov 27, 2012 7:04:41 GMT -4
Here is another view. Attachments:
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Post by lincolntbird on Nov 27, 2012 7:06:03 GMT -4
Here is a side view. Attachments:
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Post by lincolntbird on Nov 27, 2012 7:07:51 GMT -4
Here is a side view of the car back on its wheels. Attachments:
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Post by justyfied on Nov 27, 2012 18:31:32 GMT -4
Hi folks, here are some pics of my Sherpa with the rear suspension beefed up a bit. I used a pair of rear ATV springs shortened & with the bump stops trimmed to fit inside the spring. The ATV springs are then fitted inside the main springs in a double spring set up. As you can see in the side view of the car it sits considerably higher. Will try it for a while & see how it goes. Brilliant, that really looks like an end to your overloaded problem! That double spring makes sense, if they can do it for a valve spring ... why not on the suspension?
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