i got a 67 camaro with multi leaf springs. previous owner had owned it for 25 years with these springs in there and the shocks. after resto on it i bought new kyb shocks. now both broke at where the lower bolt section gets welded to the shock. i threw out old shocks so cant go by number of what was in there. he told me shock is extending to far therefor breaking the weld point. so i put it on drive on lift. lifted back of car 8 inches before new shock fully extended. when on ground shock top is halfway from bottoming to fully extended. is that right or should shock be longer or meaning being closer to bottoming.
thanks all

As DJD (Dennis) shared with me one time, many of the "ears" on multi-plates are not bent at the correct angle. Although, it's my understanding that this was mainly with after-market shock plates. Some shocks are made to where the lower bolt will pivot a bit within a bushing, and the ones like you describe are welded. In at least the latter event, the shearing strength of that bolt will be greatly diminished if it's being pushed/pulled from an angle that's not even close to 90*. This could be your problem (or part of it), but I'm not sure why it never had issues for 25yrs if it is in fact that "ear" angle.

Maybe Dennis still has some pics and could post them for you to better understand what I'm trying to explain.

I've measured both multi and single leaf shocks, and the lengths are 19 3/4" extended, 12 1/4" compressed, measured from lower eye to top mount center. The top mount center is between the two top bushings.
David

i got 21 extended and 12 3/4 bottomed. so i would guess there right shocks.

i got 21 extended and 12 3/4 bottomed. so i would guess there right shocks.

Bill, PM DjD and ask him for the pics he has which show different angle ears. It may not help, but then again, it might just be what your problem is.

Check the shock angles, and perhaps the shocks were defective? See if they will warranty them.

sure dbx ill do that. yes dave they will warranty both of them. he told me since it is multi leaf i have to put shock extenders in. for 20 bux. i guess ill put them in and see how travel on shock is. i never seen this in 25 years of working on cars.

Got your PM Bill... Here's a thread with a couple pic's
http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=104584&highlight=shocks

My guess is the new shocks are too long since the old ones had worked for 20 yrs on the existing shock plates you have. You've gotten some measurments from the guys, start there.

Another way to tell is jack the car up and place it on stands so the rear hangs with the tires off the ground without the shock attached to the shock plate. The shock should be an inch or a little more short of bolting up to the shock plate.

thanks djd. yes on a 2 post lift. the rear you got to jack up about a inch or 2 to get shock attached.i think i got it figured out.but not 100 percent sure. got new shocks today. they came with the 68-69 style bolt on attachments. aka stud and stuff. my son put in shocks he used original bolts in there what was there. the shock didnt have no spacer in there. so he tightened the shock up and bushings hit the 2 walls of perch allowing no movement of shock. so i figure no movement of shock twisting of rear and up and down movement shock had stress on it causing it to break. noted my 17 year old son put all shocks in and than my employee took them off. today i was putting them back in and looked and this is what i found.i think that third set of eyes got it straight.also they broke from back to front on shock.measured like dave said and all. think i found problem what do you think on it.thanks all. bill