How To Rebuild Shock (Dampers)

[Bob Slusher]

I would love to hear from someone who had undertaken the project of re-filling or rebuilding Armstrong (vintage) dampers. Mine were only used three weekends before the shunt in `73. I would like to have a go at rehabilitating the units.

Peace,

Bob Slusher

[zefarelly]

what fluid goes in them ? I've got a pair of Leda MK1 Cortina struts which need refilling ( becasue smarty pants here took them to bits !)

[johnny yuma]

USED TO PUT CASTOR OIL IN OLD LEVER ARM SHOCKS ---- or was that camber oil....

[phoenix]

It's just oil - but you have to get the viscosity right of course!

I re-filled the front forks on my old Triumph motorbike once, which were the dampers.

I guess Leda would tell you, wouldn't they?

[crogthomas]

You dont say which car they are on, but there are a number that use lever arms and therefore you can still get exchange rebuilt dampers for less then it would cost to do it yourself. That said, most people with MG's and the like convert to telescopic dampers these days since they are easier to get hold of.

If you would still like the challenge here are a couple of useful links for you:
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/rhodes/shock.html
http://www.carolinahealeys.com/Techn...%20therapy.htm

Motorcycle damper oil is easily available in a range of viscosities, you can even blend it to get in-between values. It is manufactured to better tolerances than things like jack oil and contains other stuff like anti-foaming agents which im led to believe is a good thing.

Craig

[zefarelly]

hmm . .will go reading, mine are Mc Pherson struts, on a Cortina . . .oddly enough !

[crogthomas]

Zefarelly: I was talking about lever arm dampers but since you ask, the usual thing to do with Cortina struts is to replace the inards with a sealed adjustable damper insert (Koni or similar). To change the valving of the original dampers sucessfully would be very difficult. You may be able to change the viscosity of the oil used (again motorcycle oil is best) and vary the amount put in (this affects the amount of air springing available) but this is not ideal.

Craig

[Bob Slusher]

Originally Posted by Bob Slusher

I would love to hear from someone who had undertaken the project of re-filling or rebuilding Armstrong (vintage) dampers. Mine were only used three weekends before the shunt in `73. I would like to have a go at rehabilitating the units.

Peace,

Bob Slusher

The car is a Brabham formula unit circa 1971. Formula Atlantic with Armstrong tube type dampers w/ coil over.

[R59]

As for the viscosity, you can get Motorcycle Fork Oil, which I would assume to be in the right range. There are different viscosities of that. Used to use thicker for stiffer...

Motorcycle manuals usually tell you how many CC's to put in each fork, and it's easy when you use a syringe. I'm sure the technique is the same for car shocks, just that the construction is slightly different.

I think crogthomas is spot on with what he's advised.

Rob.

[Chucky]

Originally Posted by phoenix

It's just oil - but you have to get the viscosity right of course!

I re-filled the front forks on my old Triumph motorbike once, which were the dampers.

I guess Leda would tell you, wouldn't they?

Oil with a heap of anti-foam thrown on for stability. Try the Silkolene Fork Oil. It comes in grades from 5 to 30 (I think).