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Removing BE shock abosorbers...

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198686d

Jedi Trainee
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just how difficult is it to do? I've heard that the rear shocks are easier than the front shoocks. Appreciate any experience than any of you have with this. Why am I going to remove? To check them, clean them, paint or powder coat them, and possibly to replace oil...if I can figure that out.

Thanks,

dave in University City, MO
60 BE
04 Mini CooperS
04 Vespa ET4
 
Never removed rear lever shocks (my BE came with a tube shock conversion), but I can say that the fronts are not difficult at all. Remove the three bolts on top and the trunnion bolt and it's out. You may need to finesse it around the hard brake line, but that's nothing too hard. Should take about 15 minutes per side......including jacking up the car and taking off the wheel. :smile:


You will need to jack up the lower control arm to remove tension on the trunnion though.....otherwise it won't come out.
 
The rear shocks share bolts with the upper trailing arm link assembly, so you need to have the weight off the rear axle so that there is no strain on those bolts. A good soaking with PB and they should come off. As for the link to the axle that's another story, use plenty of PB and good luck, many times the bushings are shot and the stud will just rotate in the housing so you can't get the nut to come off. Pliers or vise grips are a good choice in that case.
Inspect and paint, no powder coating as the seals won't stand the heat required for that and you really can't dis assemble them at home with any degree of success. If they show signs of excessive leaking then get them rebuilt. I recommend Peter Caldwell at World Wide Import Parts for that, he's the best.

(Thanks to Peter Plouf for the photo)
 

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PB Blaster (penetrating oil)
 
If you change out the front shocks, the rears need to get updated as well. I madethe change to the fronts and things got way beeter in the handling department. Changing out the rears got things really to the point and go stage. Peter can get you straightened out real quick. Call him up, new shocks come in a box, swap out, old shocks go in the box, call UPS for pickup and core charge credited against your credit card upon receipt. As easy as that and only Peter builds them correctly. They do not leak. NFI, just a satisfied customer.

nosimport@mailbag.com
>
> Peter Caldwell
> World Wide Auto Parts
> 2517 Seiferth Rd., Madison, WI 53716
> (800) 362-1025 Fax (608) 223-9403
 
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