Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

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?

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.

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

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

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.

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

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