rear damper cooling!?

[AussieJohn]

Has anyone found any oil in the rear uprights between the damper and the housing? I have pulled quite a few apart over the years and not found any yet; anyones experiences?

[elj221c]

This did come up not so long ago but I can't remember which thread!

I posted a reply with this instruction from Koni . (In 1982) Para 5 in fitting section. That is what I did. I've no idea if it is still in there, as I haven't had the dampers apart since.....

Some people use oil.

[Certified Lotus]

I just did a major rebuild and put oil in my shock tubes as specified by Koni.

[rgh0]

I have pulled shocks out of the tube and had oil in there - but they were all ones I had personally put the oil in there some years earlier. When I pulled what I believe were the original Armstrong shocks out of my Elan I don't recall there being any oil.

cheers
Rohan

[Quart Meg Miles]

The original housings should have had hydraulic fluid in them as they were the dampers. Replacement inserts, at least Armstrong's, specified fluid for cooling between the insert and the housing. I don't recall whether they specified hydraulic or engine oil but I use engine oil (as it's cheaper and less corrosive) and fill it up.

[nigelrbfurness]

I have dismantled many struts over the years and have yet to find one WITHOUT oil, so there a peculiar thing you're experiencing

I once found one with what appeared to be power steering fluid by the smell of it!

Nigel F

[AussieJohn]

Thanks for all the replies guys, it's good to get other enthusiast's experiences, cheers, John.