did a search of the archives and couldn't come up with the dawg's article. rebuilt the 31 shocks last year but would like to review dawg's article before rebuilding the shocks i have to install on our 29. thanks, mike

The article on rebuilding the 1930-32 Chevrolet shock absorbers appeared in the December, 1992 issue of the G&D.

By the way, 1930 was the first year to use the Delco-Lovejoy shock absorbers as standard equipment.

Which was the first year they had anything resembling shocks or knee action on Chevrolets?

Knee-action independent front suspension was first used in 1934.
The use of shock absorbers and use of knee-action are two different things.
The shock absorbers were used on any spring suspension to controll bounce.
The knee-action, GM's name for an independent front suspension,came in two different forms in 1934 (for GM)..The open coil spring type with upper and lower controll arms for Olds,Buick ,LaSalle and Cadillac, and the enclosed coil spring "Dubonnet" style used on Chevrolet until 1938 and Pontiac till 1936.
Open spring also used on Chrysler products beginning in 1934.Studebake had a leaf spring independent suspension beginning in 1935.