412 rear suspension

[D. Grayson]

I just picked up a 74 412 wagon. I used to have one years ago, and saw this one cheap and couldn't pass it up. Anyway, the rear end suspension is tired and the rear end hangs low. Anyone know of a fix for this? I was thinking air shocks, but can't seem to find any for a 412. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[ray greenwood]

Usually, the rear suspension does not tend to sag all that much. What you are most liekly seeing is a combination of the front being naturally too high (this was from factory) and the rear shocks being shot. KYB quit making the front and rear shocks. But...I found the cross match # for the rear KYBgas-a-just high pressure gas shocks. The original KYB 411/412 stock # was KG5531. 5410 (1/2 ton) and 5406 (3/4 ton) KYB shocks are exact match. These are actually from the front of a ford econoline. I found them by cross matching the 3's from the original KYB and Boge oil shocks. If you drop me an e-mail, I will send you a skectch and exact measurements to be able to use front cartridges from a VW quantum/Audi 4000s. You will have to have an adapter stub machined from the sketch. I will also tell you how to use the later strut bearings. All is very simple. This will drop the front end the 1/2-3/4" to bring it level. These handle great. I spent a year cutting open cartridges to find valving that was very close. The front end of the type 4 was wet high by the factory because they envisioned driving with that huge trunk full. The nose high position makes for ugly handling, as it takes about two degrees out of your static castor. Ray