Fluids

[Bonkie]

What type of oil can I use in the shock absorber?

[bmcecosse]

Discussed in many threads - but a good upgrade is SAE 40 oil in the dampers, or SAE 30 if you can't find the 40.

[MarkyB]

You can work your way up from whatever nasty thin black stuff is in them now via 20/50 engine oil to SAE 30 or 40 if you want.

[Bonkie]

What is the procedure do they have to be drained or just top of with the new fluid

[oddbod]

I did mine recently and I drained them and them flushed them with new oil before topping up whilst bouncing the car. I had the back ones off at the time and reckon its easier to do the back ones off the car,the front ones on the car. I used less than a litre of sae.30 in total,so less than a fiver. Well worth doing as the difference is indescribable honestly !!

[bmcecosse]

You should read the other threads on the subject to save us all repeating over and over - but yes, remove the valve assembly and fill plug. Bounce away catching the filthy old stuff, flush through with the new oil a couple of times, them refit the valve and bounce/fill (but leave a small open space at the top) - then refit the fill plug - run for a week marvelling at the amazing new handling of your car - and then check/top up a week later. Simples !

[mike.perry]

To avoid stripping down the front suspension would the following method work?
Support front of chassis on axle stands and remove front wheels and damper drain plug
Jack up end of lower suspension arm as far as possible without lifting the car off the axle stands using a trolley jack
Release the trolley jack causng the damper arm to drop rapidly
Repeat until old fluid is pumped out

[bmcecosse]

You DO NOT dismantle the front suspension - it bounces easily and expels the fluid as it is. The rears can also be done on the car - but frankly there it is only three bolts/nuts to remove and is worth doing on the bench - IF you have some way to hold the thing while you work the arm.

[oddbod]

Hi Mike,the front dampers only need "bouncing" by pushing down and releasing on the wing,the suspension will get stiffer as you fill with new oil. There's been loads of posts here in the last week or so about refilling old dampers. To do the front ones,at least,its only some spanners and the effort to bounce up and down on the car,no need to jack anything up