Lever Shock Maintenance

[Tinster]

Don't mean to step on anyone's toes with this new
thread about lever shocks. I hope I am sharing some
knowledge I gained from trying to get my dead TR in order.

Rememberm Tinster knows just about zip when it comes to
do-it-yourself auto repairs. There must be other estupidos like me. I hope my attached how-to photo is actually
attached. I will web post the entire removal and repair procedure later this week.

Thanks to the generous folks on this forum, I was able to
refurbish my shocks and I now know they must have oil added
on a regular basis--plus I can adjust the harshness of the ride. So for you experts, I apologize if I just wasted forum space. I kinda proud of this small thing. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/troll.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/troll.gif

 

[PeterK]

Good info, a picture is always worth ... well you know.

 

[Guest]

Dale,
I think you are in trouble. Posting pictures of oil dripping into a shock absorber is a true sign of an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. G_D help you. And welcome to the club!


Bill

 

[Brosky]

Tinster, I took the Apple Hydraulics way out, so I applaud your learning efforts. But, wouldn't the shocks fill faster if there was just a little air space allowed around the funnel to allow the air to escape and fluid to take it's place?

When you have someone ask a question like that, you know they have reached way beyond the heretofore discussed OCD. Sorry, I'm hooked.

 

[Tinster]

Brosky- Yupper, the funnel must be on an angle off vertical to allow oil in - air out. The shock was 100% filled so I could take a photo that showed concept as well as the color of the replacement oil. (staged photo, you caught me !!)

After the photo, I dumped out some oil so there is an air pocket to permit compression within the closed system; ie shock absorption.

 

[trrdster2000]

Thanks, Tinster, you did a great service just letting a lot of people know they need to check the levels in their shocks, and now how to do it. Wayne

 

[Andrew Mace]

Like many other filling jobs on these cars, I've often used a small, inexpensive pump oiler to fill shocks, the kind with the longish, flexible spout that you can actually bend to fit.

I will say that, on one occasion, I found myself helping a friend refill front shocks on his MGA. I brought over a "squeeze" bottle of shock fluid from a major West Coast parts supplier. Great, except that there was no way I could angle that bottle in such a way as to get anywhere near the filler. Thankfully I'd been to McDonald's earlier that day and still had the drink cup and straw. That straw came in handy.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[tdskip]

Good for you Tinster - take every victory as they come along.