Shock absorbers

Technical questions and answers about the Mazda Bongo

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helen&tony
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Shock absorbers

Post by helen&tony » Sat Oct 11, 2008 11:58 am

Hi
I have found a repair man over here who repairs shock absorbers, and I had thought that I may give him a try next year, but wanted an opinion. He takes the shockers off. cuts the top off, repairs the inside, refills the shocks with oil, puts new seals in, and fits a screw top where he cut the top off. The whole deal is guaranteed for 6 months, and all for around 8 quid a corner, but only on oil shocks.....I may get him to do our Opel as a test....What would you folks think?
Cheers
Helen
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francophile1947
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Re: Shock absorbers

Post by francophile1947 » Sat Oct 11, 2008 12:33 pm

It used to be quite common in the old days, before everything was a sealed unit. I can remember using different viscosity oils to alter the rate of damping - especially on motorbikes.
Go for it :D At £8 per corner, it's not much to lose and quite a bit to gain.
John
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dandywarhol
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Re: Shock absorbers

Post by dandywarhol » Sat Oct 11, 2008 8:10 pm

Give it a try - pity the Bongo has gas shocks :(
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Re: Shock absorbers

Post by francophile1947 » Sat Oct 11, 2008 8:13 pm

dandywarhol wrote:Give it a try - pity the Bongo has gas shocks :(
But does it have to have gas shocks?
John
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helen&tony
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Re: Shock absorbers

Post by helen&tony » Sun Oct 12, 2008 6:06 am

Hi
I've not done much reading on the construction of the Bongo shocks, but I thought that they were oil rather than gas shocks, but, perhaps, I stand corrected.....I'll have a poke round after your advice, Dandy. I have been told, though , that the standard Bongo shocks are pretty good, and there's not much to gain by going for after- market dampers.
I remember people messing around with dampers, Franco, and I remember with SU carburettors (which have a simple damping system), using brake fluid in the oil reservoir, and with a few modifications you could turn the standard dashpot into a "quick-lift" version
Cheers
Helen
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Re: Shock absorbers

Post by teenmal » Sun Oct 12, 2008 9:26 am

Hi Helen,I think you will find that the SU carb dome, and piston were cleaned with brake fluid.And topped up with light oil.

You are bringing back old memories.

Cheers Mal..
:lol:
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Re: Shock absorbers

Post by francophile1947 » Sun Oct 12, 2008 10:52 am

teenmal wrote:Hi Helen,I think you will find that the SU carb dome, and piston were cleaned with brake fluid.And topped up with light oil.

You are bringing back old memories.

Cheers Mal..
:lol:
They lifted quicker with brake fluid, unless you used a really thin oil like that for sewing machines.
This brings back happy memories of when any trip over 100 miles required a full service beforehand - and you probably still broke down :lol: :lol: :lol:
John
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teenmal
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Re: Shock absorbers

Post by teenmal » Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:06 am

francophile1947 wrote:
teenmal wrote:Hi Helen,I think you will find that the SU carb dome, and piston were cleaned with brake fluid.And topped up with light oil.

You are bringing back old memories.

Cheers Mal..
:lol:
They lifted quicker with brake fluid, unless you used a really thin oil like that for sewing machines.
This brings back happy memories of when any trip over 100 miles required a full service beforehand - and you probably still broke down :lol: :lol: :lol:
Hi John,cant go back as far as that :lol: ps 3in1 oil.

Regs mal..
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Re: Shock absorbers

Post by francophile1947 » Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:12 am

teenmal wrote:Hi John,cant go back as far as that :lol: ps 3in1 oil.

Regs mal..
3in1 :shock: - far too thick :lol: :lol: :lol:
Only joking - I've used that as well. In fact, anything that was thinner than engine oil :lol: :lol:
John
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teenmal
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Re: Shock absorbers

Post by teenmal » Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:19 am

francophile1947 wrote:
teenmal wrote:Hi John,cant go back as far as that :lol: ps 3in1 oil.

Regs mal..
3in1 :shock: - far too thick :lol: :lol: :lol:
Only joking - I've used that as well. In fact, anything that was thinner than engine oil :lol: :lol:
The Castrol XL was good for frying the breakfast. :roll: :wink:

Mal..
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Re: Shock absorbers

Post by teenmal » Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:25 am

teenmal wrote:
francophile1947 wrote:
teenmal wrote:Hi John,cant go back as far as that :lol: ps 3in1 oil.

Regs mal..
3in1 :shock: - far too thick :lol: :lol: :lol:
Only joking - I've used that as well. In fact, anything that was thinner than engine oil :lol: :lol:
The Castrol XL was good for frying the breakfast. :roll: :wink:

Mal..
EP140 for Front shocks.
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Re: Shock absorbers

Post by francophile1947 » Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:26 am

teenmal wrote:The Castrol XL was good for frying the breakfast. :roll: :wink:

Mal..
Now THAT I didn't tryImage :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
John
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Re: Shock absorbers

Post by francophile1947 » Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:26 am

teenmal wrote:EP140 for Front shocks.
Only to get it through the MOT :lol: :lol: :lol:
John
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Re: Shock absorbers

Post by teenmal » Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:28 am

francophile1947 wrote:
teenmal wrote:EP140 for Front shocks.
Only to get it through the MOT :lol: :lol: :lol:

What MOT :roll: ?
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Re: Shock absorbers

Post by francophile1947 » Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:37 am

teenmal wrote:
francophile1947 wrote:
teenmal wrote:EP140 for Front shocks.
Only to get it through the MOT :lol: :lol: :lol:

What MOT :roll: ?
Beeky Chugger :lol: :lol: :lol: MOTs started even before I was allowed to drive. Mind you, it was for cars over 10 years old in those days 8)
John
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