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Shock absorbers
Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 11:58 am
by helen&tony
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
Re: Shock absorbers
Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 12:33 pm
by francophile1947
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

At £8 per corner, it's not much to lose and quite a bit to gain.
Re: Shock absorbers
Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 8:10 pm
by dandywarhol
Give it a try - pity the Bongo has gas shocks

Re: Shock absorbers
Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 8:13 pm
by francophile1947
dandywarhol wrote:Give it a try - pity the Bongo has gas shocks

But does it have to have gas shocks?
Re: Shock absorbers
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 6:06 am
by helen&tony
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
Re: Shock absorbers
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 9:26 am
by teenmal
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..

Re: Shock absorbers
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 10:52 am
by francophile1947
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..

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

Re: Shock absorbers
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:06 am
by teenmal
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..

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

Hi John,cant go back as far as that

ps 3in1 oil.
Regs mal..
Re: Shock absorbers
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:12 am
by francophile1947
teenmal wrote:Hi John,cant go back as far as that

ps 3in1 oil.
Regs mal..
3in1

- far too thick
Only joking - I've used that as well. In fact, anything that was thinner than engine oil

Re: Shock absorbers
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:19 am
by teenmal
francophile1947 wrote:teenmal wrote:Hi John,cant go back as far as that

ps 3in1 oil.
Regs mal..
3in1

- far too thick
Only joking - I've used that as well. In fact, anything that was thinner than engine oil

The Castrol XL was good for frying the breakfast.
Mal..
Re: Shock absorbers
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:25 am
by teenmal
teenmal wrote:francophile1947 wrote:teenmal wrote:Hi John,cant go back as far as that

ps 3in1 oil.
Regs mal..
3in1

- far too thick
Only joking - I've used that as well. In fact, anything that was thinner than engine oil

The Castrol XL was good for frying the breakfast.
Mal..
EP140 for Front shocks.
Re: Shock absorbers
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:26 am
by francophile1947
Re: Shock absorbers
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:26 am
by francophile1947
teenmal wrote:EP140 for Front shocks.
Only to get it through the MOT

Re: Shock absorbers
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:28 am
by teenmal
francophile1947 wrote:teenmal wrote:EP140 for Front shocks.
Only to get it through the MOT

What MOT

?
Re: Shock absorbers
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:37 am
by francophile1947
teenmal wrote:francophile1947 wrote:teenmal wrote:EP140 for Front shocks.
Only to get it through the MOT

What MOT

?
Beeky Chugger

MOTs started even before I was allowed to drive. Mind you, it was for cars over 10 years old in those days
