[Silly Little Cars] Front Shocks for a 1994 Westward Go4

[Michael Norton]

For rust on forks clean with fine steel wool
The rust usually looks worse than it is. Minor pitting normally does not leak.
Home remedy #1 for pitting get industrial epoxy putty ( J B Weld type but industrial quality) be careful to not damage the chrome finish when hand machining smooth.
Remedy # 2 remove fork and take to industrial hydraulics machine shop for repair, they have repaired shafts on off road EQ that are badly damaged.


From: silly_little_cars-bounces at lists.sillylittlecars.com [mailto:silly_little_cars-bounces at lists.sillylittlecars.com] On Behalf Of Michael Norton
Sent: Wednesday, January 08, 2014 11:43 AM
To: Silly Little Email List
Subject: Re: [Silly Little Cars] Front Shocks for a 1994 Westward Go4

http://lists.sillylittlecars.com/pipermail/silly_little_cars-sillylittlecars.com/2012-June/004223.html

SHOWA forks, if they are leaking a motorcycle shop should be able to rebuild for you if you don't want to attempt it.
Check for seals and o-rings at an industrial supply store ( Bearings Inc. ) they can match up your seals, usually at a significantly lower price than at a shop.
If not leaking check / change the oil.
When I got mine it was bouncing around erratically as the speed increased.
I found that the stearing head bearings were loose. If you jack up the front and grab the forks push and pull on them in all directions they should not move around. Mine were pretty loose at the stearing head. I checked the castle nut under the dash and it was just finger tight. The manual I have from silly little cars said to tork to 80 ft lb. I did this and it made a huge difference. I also added a stearing stabilizer from a VW Bus. (See pics) I commute with mine on I-5 in Seattle. I know most of you don't want to go that fast in your GO-4. The car does bounce on the expansion joints at certain speeds, just like those lowered Honda cars. With the tightened head bearings, stearing stabilizer and made sure the wheels were aligned, at 60 mph on I-5, I don't have a death grip on the wheel and can drink my morning coffee.



From: silly_little_cars-bounces at lists.sillylittlecars.com<mailto:silly_little_cars-bounces at lists.sillylittlecars.com> [mailto:silly_little_cars-bounces at lists.sillylittlecars.com] On Behalf Of Rich Hyde
Sent: Wednesday, January 08, 2014 10:52 AM
To: silly_little_cars at lists.sillylittlecars.com<mailto:silly_little_cars at lists.sillylittlecars.com>
Subject: [Silly Little Cars] Front Shocks for a 1994 Westward Go4

I have a 1994 Westward Go4 that needs front shocks and the factory (Westward) says they haven't stocked those shocks in years.  Now what?  I'm at a complete loss and called all over the place and I'm coming up empty.  My Go4 bounces around like it has a pogo stick on the front end and I just want to get this thing finished.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Richard Hyde

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.sillylittlecars.com/pipermail/silly_little_cars-sillylittlecars.com/attachments/20140113/bbc558b6/attachment-0004.htm>