front dampers, does anyone know if...

Post by **davidmiles** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 7:01 pm

Has anyone had experience of, or know of, the front dampers failing and needing to be replaced, has anyone had bolt failure, or can I relax and stop worrying about these long attachment bolts. They are a nightmare to replace if they sheer off in the threaded plate. Mine are ok for now. whats the liklyhood I will have to replace the damper at some point and have to extract these bolts?
And, has anyone ever seen the damper welded to the bulkhead if bolts have failed. Any advice about tapping over the edges of the washer, is this an mot failure if its not done right?
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Post by **aupickup** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 7:06 pm

fromt dampers can leak around the seal, so in that case would need replacing

the tabs are best bent over with mole grips,

Post by **davidmiles** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 7:19 pm

Thanks Dennis, could the seal be fixed with a makeshift gasket?

Post by **PSL184** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 7:20 pm

Take the bolts out now whilst you have everything apart. Clean them up and refit them with a ggod dollop of copperslip. That way they will come out easily if they have to in the future....

Post by **aupickup** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 7:26 pm

If the seal goes, it goes where the big arm comes out

exchange unit is the only way and that is an mot fail

do as above re bolts, in fact all the bolts not just these ones

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:28 pm

You don't have to bend over the tabs - MOT don't care about them - but of course it is a good idea to do so! As Dennis suggests - ease out the bolts one at a time - going carefully to ensure no snapping! - and copperslip them and pull them up again. May be an idea to spray Waxoyl into the thread holes - to coat the inside of the crossmember.

Post by **Alec** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 6:20 pm

Hello David,

"And, has anyone ever seen the damper welded to the bulkhead if bolts have failed"

That would be a bodge to out do all others. However, being as the dampers are aluminium bodied it would take a magician to do it

Alec

Post by **davidmiles** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 7:02 pm

thanks everyone, I must get some waxoil in spray form, and try that copperslip too.

Post by **aupickup** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 7:18 pm

use dinitrol spray as the wax oil spray comes out as a blob of wax

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 7:39 pm

Shake up waxoyl with a little white spirit - put it in an empty domestic 'spray' bottle - and heat the bottle in a bucket of hot water!

Post by **les** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 10:05 pm

Regarding the tab washers, it's an idea not to bent them over initially so that after so many miles and possibly bedding in, the bolts can be re-tightened/checked, then washers bent over. In fact mine are still 'unlocked' years later!