Adjustable Rear Shocks.

[kawasaki kid]

Whilst under the van today removing my dissolving exhaust system in readyness for delivery of my new one tomorrow I noticed that my rear shocks had adjusters near the bottom on the inboard side - they adjust between 1 & 4 and are set to 4 are these OE shocks or have I been lucky and had aftermarket ones fitted. At least I now know why the back end of the van doesn`t dip much when the caravan is on the back. One other thing - I am replacing the whole exhaust system and my van has the winter pack fitted and the exhaust has that valve fitted - I will be removing this valve and is it just a case of blanking the end of the pipe leading valve and disconnecting the switch at the dashboard end - Hope it is that simple. Thanks for any info.

[mikeonb4c]

Can't help with advice but out of interest where did you source your exhaust from and how much? When my time comes (and my back box time is coming soon) I'm wondering about stainless steel provided it doesn't make the car noisier and provided I can find the dosh

[The Great Pretender]

Whilst under the van today removing my dissolving exhaust system in readyness for delivery of my new one tomorrow I noticed that my rear shocks had adjusters near the bottom on the inboard side - they adjust between 1 & 4 and are set to 4 are these OE shocks or have I been lucky and had aftermarket ones fitted. At least I now know why the back end of the van doesn`t dip much when the caravan is on the back. One other thing - I am replacing the whole exhaust system and my van has the winter pack fitted and the exhaust has that valve fitted - I will be removing this valve and is it just a case of blanking the end of the pipe leading valve and disconnecting the switch at the dashboard end - Hope it is that simple. Thanks for any info.

Do you know how to set the dampers?

[kawasaki kid]

Mike, I ordered my system from a company called Iezura on ebay - it cost £149 + £20 p + p - it only worked out about £20 more to buy the full system from them than to just order the back box and flexi section together. the only snag I found was that the nuts on the flanges where really tight I released 3 of the 4 with a 24 inch breaker bar and a 17 mm six sided socket - the last bolt required grinding off. It was amazing how rotted the system was the pipe between the rear box and the joint was perforated for nearly 9 inches were it goes over the axle and where it entered the back box it had split and the centre section either side of the flexi pipe. I ws really looking forward to doing this job.

[kawasaki kid]

quote=Do you know how to set the dampers?

They were set like this before I bought the van - but to answer your question - no I don`t - but I am willing to learn

[The Great Pretender]

quote=Do you know how to set the dampers?

They were set like this before I bought the van - but to answer your question - no I don`t - but I am willing to learn

Set them full soft. then jump on the bumper, set the damper at about 1 and a 1/2 rebounds

[helen&tony]

Hi
OOOoooh....that's just what I want....adjustable uprated shocks, AND front legs....anyone know where to try?....I've looked at K&N and tried searching....no luck so far
Cheers
Helen

[dandywarhol]

I don't have uprated shocks (yours are non standard kk) but I recently fitted Airlfit airbags into my springs to se if they would eliminate the bumpstops coming into contact with the axle on "roller coaster" A roads with my scooter on/in the back.

They are a complete success - the air gives an additional "progressive" spring effect and the compliance of the rubber gives some additional damping. I was concerned that the bags would highlight a weakness in the original dampers but no such worries Only on a really rough highish speed section of road in Slovakia did the bumpstops "touch" and that was pretty laden with the scoot in the back. If the airbags hadn't been on I'm convinced it would've ben crashing out most of the way.

If you can't find a set of uprated, adjustable dampers H & T the airbag solution could be the way to go - and they're fully adjustable - just add air!

[helen&tony]

Hi Dandy
i had thought of fitting those, as I have Grayston assisters in at the moment, and I'm not really in favour of those due to long term likelihood of spring fatigue. I was hopefully going to find something uprated for front and back, as I've used upgraded gas shocks on my Type 2 with amazing results (along with HUGELY uprated anti-roll baron the front, and adding one to the rear), and with urethane bushes and a few other mods it changed a sloppy , dangerous ride into something that handled.....Most Bongos are oldish, and anything approaching 60,000 Kilometers can expect to find the shock absorbers not performing correctly. As you know, the MOT just bounces the shockers to test....in no way is this any indication of their efficiency....they may still work, after a fashion, but to get good handling and increased tyre performance, they should be changed . It must be possible to get some kind of decent shockers (dampers) from Japan, but it is hard to find any.
Cheers
Helen

[mikeonb4c]

Mike, I ordered my system from a company called Iezura on ebay - it cost £149 + £20 p + p - it only worked out about £20 more to buy the full system from them than to just order the back box and flexi section together. the only snag I found was that the nuts on the flanges where really tight I released 3 of the 4 with a 24 inch breaker bar and a 17 mm six sided socket - the last bolt required grinding off. It was amazing how rotted the system was the pipe between the rear box and the joint was perforated for nearly 9 inches were it goes over the axle and where it entered the back box it had split and the centre section either side of the flexi pipe. I ws really looking forward to doing this job.

Thanks for tthis reply kwacker - just spotted it. How did you find tthe quality of the Iezura kit (as far as it is possible to tell).. Easy to fit?

[The Great Pretender]

Hi Helen, the bounce test works, just because it is simple don't discount it. If you put a damper on a dyno all it does is push it up and down recording resistance at differing speed.

[helen&tony]

Hi, TGP
Sure, bouncing works, but I'm entirely uncertain when I try it....there should be a firmness to the recoil, and you can still elicit a result on a Knackered damper....I'm not that good at telling the difference when the damper is just on the way out....my end analysis is a look at the mileage....if over 40,000 miles, then it stands a good chance they're not working efficiently...... still, Mazda dampers may be a bit better than the average Ford / Vauxhall saloon....I'm sure they buy in the cheapest rubbish....(I've got an Opel fruit over here, and I must say they're absolute rubbish all tied up with a pretty ribbon)
Cheers
Helen