Morris Minor Owners Club

hi there. i had a fail on a rear shock absorber having a negligible damping effect. i am not sure how they test these on the moggie, but i am left with these questions.

1. can i refill the damper without taking it off the car?
2. if a seal has gone can i put new seals on the damper without taking it off the car?
3. if i have to take the damper off the car, what's the process and is it easy, how long would it take?

is it better to replace these dampers if they have fluid showing on the outside of them or is it possible to service them easily?

You can't service them - you can (and should ) drain and refill with SAE 30 oil (tesco garden section) - or if in a hurry - just use engine oil for now and change to the SAE 30 later. It can be done on the car - but it's only two bolts + 1 nut to take them off - so do that! A leaking damper is an MOT fail - but if wiped clean - as long as it's only a small weep - there will be nothing showing when you take it for the MOT.

I always wipe the dampers clean on my traveller and top up the oil before each MOT. Despite, the dampers weeping slightly for years, they have passed several MOT's and work as long as there is some oil in them. You can get rebuilt exchange dampers from the usual suppliers.

I expect the MOT garage just failed the car because the dampers were leaking- top up the dampers, wipe off the visible oil, paint the dampers and the car should pass the MOT!

" paint the dampers " - he's got a work list as long as your arm - he hasn't got time for paint!

Yes, freshly painted dampers will make the MOT man think they are recon items!

Even if you have to replace them at some stage they are quite cheap at £16.95 on an exchange basis from ESM. They also sell new ones and uprated ones but more expensive.

Regards
Declan

I wonder how they 'uprate' them ? More viscous oil would be my bet. However - uprated valves are sold for the MGB lever arm dampers - and it's possible these same valves may fit the Minor dampers. Any any one got a spare MGB rear damper lying around - to see if the valves are the same/exchangeable with Minor damper valve ?

just waking this thread up for a second, i have been looking at the dampers, there's a hex nut face at the top and maybe one at the bottom as far as i can see. do i open one of these to drain and one to refill? do i fill them up to the top, or a cm from the top? many thanks.

Take both off to drain them.
To refill, and to pump out the old stuff, you need to remove the bolts that hold them at an angle.
There does need to be an air gap above the oil.

The top hex is the filler p;ug. The bottom hex has the valve assy behind it - take GREAT CARE to NOT lose any of the valve parts as you undo this hex. Fill with new oil (sae 30 or40) and pumpit through a couple of times - only then refit the valve assy -and then pump it to remove any air. Leave a wee air gap at the top. You really need the rear dampers on the bench (in a vice) to do all this - but the fronts are done on the car.