front dampers

[robandsophie]

Hi,
Anyone know how much fluid I should be putting into front dampers? I removed the bottom and top plug - got a dribble out. Then re-filled with about 5 mls of compressor oil (working the damper up and down by having a good bounce on the wing)! Was filled up to top. Does this sound about right?? Is this how you change the damper oil or is there a better way?
Any advice greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Rob

[panky]

You really need to work the dampers to get the oil out, pulling up and pushing down on the car with the plugs out of the damper, good work out on a cold day Same with replacing it, pulling and pushing to get the oil circulating. Do it a couple of times to flush all the old oil out - and there should be an air space left at the top.
Be careful not to loos any bits when you take the bottom plug out as there is a valve and tiny washers lurking in there.

[bmcecosse]

There should be a little spring and some tiny/thin washers on the bottom valve. Sometimes the old (thin) oil runs our easily - probably because it's knackered - and usually stinks of rotten fish! Maybe your oil is relatively new - still viscous, and hasn't broken down yet. As above - bit more bouncing required. It's easier on the bench - when you can work the arm full travel in both directions, but I appreciate it's a bit of hassle taking the dampers off....

[mike.perry]

How about supporting the chassis on axle stands, removing the wheel, pumping up the lower suspension arm with a trolley jack then releasing the trolley jack. Do that a few times and it should pump the old oil out

[robandsophie]

Thanks for advice, i certainly have the spring but haven't seen any washers. Are they before or after the spring? Have I made a bit of a cock a doodle diddley up?

[don58van]

I had a similar experience to yours -- a tiny amount came out. I could see that there was more oil in the top section through the filler hole but no amount of pumping the lever would move it through. I did a bit of probing through the filler hole with a little screwdriver. The screwdriver came out covered in a thick, gooey sludge. Clearly, this sludge was so thick that it would not move through the passages to the drain hole.

The goo seemed to be a mixture of oil and fine metal particles. After some further assessment, I decided that the damper had been damaged.

FYI

Don

[panky]

The washers should be on the spindle of the spring assembly but they just slide on so could still be inside the damper. The washers are to adjust the pressure of the valve so are essential. Have you still got the container you drained the oil into?

[bmcecosse]

I wouldn't worry too much about the washers - their effect is minimal - but do have a twiddle about in there to see if they have been left behind. The difference with using SAE40 oil is 100 X the effect of any little washers!

[panky]

That's true

[Declan_Burns]

This is what you would expect to find on the front damper.
Regards
Declan[frame][/frame]

[robandsophie]

Thats great, thanks for all advice, brill photo Declan. Just for completion, how much oil should i expect to put in each damper (front and rear)

[Trickydicky]

You will have plenty with a litre of SAE40 to do all 4.

[panky]

From memory I think it's about 100ml each in the front and will be a bit less in the rear.

[robandsophie]

100mls Is that right? I can only get about 25 mls in, even with lots of bouncing up and down. I've stuck a long alan key in top and bottom opening, there doesn't seem to be any obstruction. Am I doing something wrong?

[bmcecosse]

No - you probably have good 'thick' fluid in there (as opposed to thin/smelly/knackered) and the cold weather doesn't help. Close them up and road test. May need topping up again after a day or two. But always leave a small air space at the top.