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Damper servicing
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 4:36 pm
by reprs
Am at the point of putting the dampers back on my pick-up. Drained the oil, smelly stuff as I was warned. Put bottom plug back in with the springs and lever floppy. Put oil in and lever arm becomes so stiff it won't move after a couple of up and downs. If I release the bottom plug it seems to free it up again. Am I not fitting the bottom plug properly or are the dampers just past their best?
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 4:57 pm
by bmcecosse
Sounds ideal! The damper arm will be v hard to move by hand - the vehicle has a lot more stored energy than your arm! Depends of course what grade of oil you used - even with EP90 in mine - I was (just) able to move the arms up and down - maybe with an extension lever fitted - it was a long long time ago! Standard oil would be sae20 - better damping with sae30 and better still with sae40. I don't really recommend EP90 for a normal road car......but it gave me no problems.
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 5:32 pm
by reprs
Thanks BMC, that's a relief. I have used Classic SAE30.
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 5:38 pm
by bmcecosse
Should be good - try to get as much air as you can out - but likely they will need a bot of topping up over the first few eeks of use. Don't fill right to the top - leave a wee air space.
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 4:19 pm
by deano69
Is this the front or rear dampers?Im guessing the front but was curious how you went round topping up with a rear damper as im lead to believe it can only be done off car...
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 4:21 pm
by reprs
Front dampers...and they are off the car at the moment...as is almost everything else!
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 5:29 pm
by mike.perry
rear dampers
I always thought that the rear dampers on a pick up were telescopics.
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 5:33 pm
by PSL184
mike.perry wrote:
rear dampers
I always thought tat the rear dampers on a pick up were telescopics.
They are.
Saloon / Traveller rears can be done in situ although it is not an easy job and may be best to remove them from the car...
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 5:43 pm
by mike.perry
Never had to take mine off to top them up, I check them when I take the wheels off to adjust the brakes.
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 6:08 pm
by PSL184
mike.perry wrote:Never had to take mine off to top them up, I check them when I take the wheels off to adjust the brakes.
Top up yes but flush out and refill is not so easy....
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:37 pm
by bmcecosse
One rear damper is fine - the other sits at an odd angle - just slacken one bolt and remove the other - and swivel the damper till the top sits more or less horizontal - then carry on!