Rear dampers, 1957 Morris Minor

[NutmegCT]

I thought I'd check the damper fluid levels. Hmmm - both front dampers are dry. Filled with damper fluid, exercised them with a few body bounces, replaced filler cap, checked for leaks, no drips, keeping fingers crossed.

Per workshop manual, rear dampers must be removed from car to check fluid and top off. Fitting is similar to this:

Do I need to put the car on jack stands to remove the rear dampers? Or can I just remove the two bolts on each one and remove the units? I don't want to hear a loud "thwack"!

Thanks.
Tom M.

 

[BobHaskell]

Tom,
The shocks shouldn't be spring loaded. But there are probably two bolts on the shock body (one next to the axle) and one on the arm. To check the fluid level, I guess that the shock body has to be vertical. So you might not have to disconnect the arm from the link.

 

[NutmegCT]

Thanks Bob. I"ll give that a try on Wednesday. When you say "two bolts on the shock body", do you mean the one I have circled *and* a second one I can't see?

 

[BobHaskell]

Thanks Bob. I"ll give that a try on Wednesday. When you say "two bolts on the shock body", do you mean the one I have circled *and* a second one I can't see?

Right, opposite the one that you can see, next to the axle.

 

[drooartz]

It's been a while since I replaced my rear shocks. I'm with Bob in that I don't think you'd need the car on stands. I did have my car on stands, but I was replacing the entire rear suspension including the springs.