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REAR SUSPENSION
Rear suspension on each side consists of a coil spring, with a shock absorber inside each
spring (like a strut), and a swing-arm tha t bolts to the rear axle and pivots at the frame
attachment.
The two rear swing-arms are of different construction. The right (passenger) side is made
of hollow steel pipe. The left arm is of flat steel. The reason for this is unknown to me at
this writing.
The rear shock absorbers are stamped “Monro-Matic” with the part number “1034”. The
date code is “C10C71”. The rear coil springs are pre- loaded. The spring must be
compressed about an inch in order to safely bolt or unbolt the shock. We jacked up the
frame and set it on blocks located at the rear of the battery framework, just at the forward
edge of the rear trailing arms, and then used a floor-jack under the rear axle to raise the
axle until the shocks could be fastened without tension. The rubber bushings for the
shocks may be replaced with HELP! part number 31018 or Napa part number 650-1113.
FRONT SUSPENSION
Front suspension on each side consists of a flat single- leaf spring and a flat half- leaf, and
shock absorber. The rear end of the leaf spring and half leaf are solidly bolted to the
frame. The forward end of the whole leaf spring is solidly bolted to the front axle. The
shock absorbers are located between the front axle and the frame.
The front shock absorbers are stamped “MAECO” with the part number “A40099”. The
date code is “C2D73”.
STEERING
Steering is a conventional automotive type. I strongly suspect the S-71 uses the same
components as were used for Otis gasoline-powered products of higher power and speed.
The steering assembly has a total of six grease fittings, three on each side as indicated by
the arrows on the photos below.