Front shocks

[David Welch]

Does any one have a extra set of front shocks, or know what can be used as a new replacement
Thanks David W

[GlennV]

Hi David,

To my knowledge, i would say that normal jeep shockabsorbers are the same for GPA.

Best regards,
Glenn

[David Welch]

I have been told that the front ones are different. Closed they are 8 1/4 inch and open 16 inch.
Thanks David

[GPA2196]

They are indeed different from GPW front shocks (the rears are the same as GPW) The front shocks are marked GPA and I believe amphibian. I believe they are heavier duty than the GPW. Unfortunately I do not have an extra set David, I sold off my spares.

Tony

[leo verhagen]

David, Tony,

I was lucky I had both original GPA front shocks with my GPA, still in good working order.
The were F marked, made by Gabriel and on the top "Model GPA Amphibian".
These shocks are indeed havier duty then on the jeep.

Sorry, I have no spare ones, and have no info on a replacement model.
Here is a photo of the front shocks for reference:

[fordgpa]

David , When restoring mine I took of the shocks cleaned them to put them back.
I took a brand new jeep shock compared them and they are the same to me .
The story I was told that they are locked for the down travel, so the front axel does go to deep when swimming.
I don t believe this because it is also limited by the spring action.
If I am correct the Jeep are a little shorter [war production]
if you look in the TM jeep and GPA you can see that it is about 1/4 inch different in travel compressed and extented less then 1/2 inch.
So I would say take new front shocks jeep /gpw and nothing to worry about.

Peter

[Cees]

The story I was told that they are locked for the down travel, so the front axel does go to deep when swimming.
I don t believe this because it is also limited by the spring action.
Peter

Peter,

I disagree with you. I think that the max.lenght for the shocks are very important for the drag link. If you use normal GPW shocks the drag link hit the seal when floating. Then you need the extended bell crank shaft from Richard.

Cees

[fordgpa]

Cees , you have a point

Peter

[David Welch]

The TM lists the MB/GPW front shock as 10 9/16 closed and 16 1/8 open
The measurement of my front GPA shock is 8 1/4 closed and 16 open
I think that Richard offers a extended bell crank that raises the rod up and off the seal .
I think the gpa was produced in late 42 until mid 1493 and the extended bell crank was a later design for the field modification kit that allowed jeeps to use the capstan winch. It raises the tie rods up so the pto shaft can make a clean run from the front pulley. I guess that Richard found that this also solves the design problem of the gpa where the bell crank rod rubs on the boot with the correct shocks.
Looking at the above numbers it looks like the difference is in the closed position--when the GPA is on land with MB/GPW shocks
David

[Cees]

David some pictures from my work GPA the axel is hanging free.

Wheels straight. It has 1/4 inch free from the boot

Wheels to the left

Wheels to the right

Cees

[David Welch]

I think with Richards solution the new bell crank raises the rod about an inch.

[richardfs]

The extrended bell crank shaft I make raises the drag link 1"3/8 (36mm)

This centres the draglink in the boot so it is not pinned by the drag link when the weight comes of the wheels.

On my original GPA I did not have the original shock absorbers. I had no choice but to fit ordinary GPW ones. It did not have this bell crank shaft modification but the spring setting was critical or the boot could be damaged when the weight was of the wheels.

I think you would be quite safe fitting standard shockabsorbers as long as you check your spring settings. To be safe fit the extended bell crank shaft.

Best regards
Richard Sanders