Front suspension

[jleyton]

I'm going down the powder coating path with my front suspension and I understand that they heat it up to something like 200 degrees.

Question 1: Has anybody had any components powder coatedwith bushes or other rubber components still fitted ? To be on the safe side, I'm removing everything that's rubber as I don't want it to melt :shock:

Question 2: In dismantling thefront strut, I have taken out the damper insert, by knocking out the peening and unscrewing the top retaining collar- for the reasons above. I have an ordinary system and the leg has quite a bit of oil in it. As I extend and compress the damper, the oil is ejected from the bottom and its damping capabilities reduce as all the oil is ejected.

So, when I reassemble I guess I'm going to have to refill the strut with oil and my questions are: what sort of oil and how much?

There's absolutely nothing in either the ROM or Haynes about replacing the insert as far as I can see :?

All advice gratefully received.

Cheers

Julian

[Andy Rundell]

imported post

i may be mis-understanding, but it sounds like the insert is sh@gged and you have the insert swimming in its own oil.

could of new inserts for reassembly needed........ when i had this i opted for std. inserts as replacements with slightly uprated springs from Chris Witor..... many others prefer spax and regular springs.........

decisions decisions

.............. Andy

[jleyton]

imported post

Well that's exactly what I thought at first but when Iput the insert back in the leg and thenextended itand compressed it, I felt and heardthe oil moving in and out and it was doing exactly what it should - Ie damping.

There's a sealing ring underneath the top fixing ring and that made me think that there was supposed to be oil inside the leg - like I say, when it's in there it all seems to work perfectly :?

Cheers

Julian

[Andy Rundell]

imported post

i wasn't aware that the legs should be filled with oil ........ and there doesn't appear to be a seal on the brass washer to hold the insert in the leg

I'm sure someone will be along with another opinion soon ........

...............Andy

[V Mad]

imported post

Hi Julian

IIRC original Triumph factory dampers did not use a sealedinsert, so there was oil inside (I may be wrong there, but I am going back over 20 years when I did a Triumph strut, possibly a Tr2000). I think this expains why there is no mention how to replace the insert.

But anyway, most cars now, if not allhave inserts which are sealed, and therefore no oil is visible. Unless you have a very old original damper, you must have an inserts, and if there is oil aroound then they are shot, and need replacing. Note; new ones are very hard to push by hand.

Cheers

[jleyton]

imported post

Thanks Chris,

I've got a funny feeling that I have got an original as you describeand, believe it or not, there doesn't seem to be much wear and the damping action works well.

I'm very tempted to refill with oil and see if it works, only trouble is, I don't know how much oil, nor what type :?

At least your comments would suggest that I'm not going completely barmy

Cheers

Julian

[redstag]

imported post

Hi Julian,

I am sure from your description thatyours are original factory units, they are the same as mine when I changed to spax inserts a year or so ago.

Like yours, mine were still working ok with no leaks after 38 years.

No idea which grade of oil to use though.



Pete

[redstag]

imported post

Millers do a selection:

http://www.millersoils.net/1_Millers...SSIC-other.htm



Pete

[grahamb]

imported post

A well known and supremely qualified ex poster advised me to suround my new sealed units with oil. Who am I to argue?

[Marco Polo]

imported post

Julian,

I concur with"A well known and supremely qualified ex poster," If you do decide to replace your dampers with inserts, you need to fill the strut with oil, I was recommended to use ATF. This is to dissipate the heat caused by the friction of the insert. You will need to leave a small air gap to allow for the expansion of the ATF as it heats up.

regards,

Raoul

[V Mad]

imported post

There is nothing in the Spax installation website notesabout using oil with inserts, nor in any leaflets that come withany inserts I have bought.

[jleyton]

imported post

Thanks to all of you

There's the Triumph ROM and Haynes with absolutely no mention whatsoever about this, yetjust a short time on the forum and I've got all the answers I need - brilliant I am very grateful.

On the basis of 'if it ain't broke don't fix it, plus originality and then with cost in mind, I'm inclined to retain the original oil damper - it hadn't leaked and seemed to be doing a perfectly good job and I only dismantled it so that I could remove any seals before taking it for powder coating.

Cheers and thanks again.

Julian

[V Mad]

imported post

Very wise Julian. If you had to fit inserts, you would have a terrible dilemma; to oil or not to oil

[jleyton]

imported post

V Mad wrote:

Very wise Julian. If you had to fit inserts, you would have a terrible dilemma; to oil or not to oil

[marcusclive]

imported post

morning,

By insert i am assuming you mean the shock absorber. These are filled with oil and have basically a washer with a small hole in it attached to the central pin. This provides the damping effect by restricting the flow of oil from the lower to upper chamber of the leg as the weight of the vehicle is pushed down on it. ie when you hit a bump.

If it has leaked out over time then it would need replacing as they are not normally user servicable. However i have several times over the past and being young and poor at the time, drilled a small hole in the top of the unit and re filled with power steering fluid. the hole gets closed with a spot of weld after. Also later not being so young or poor just inquisitive have done it using different oils just to see what the differing damping effects are.

This is not a recommended repair and i am sure somewhere along the line very frowned upon by M.O.T testers etc.