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Title: Filling the front dampers with oil for the first time Post by: impaw on 23 November, 2021, 02:51:06 PM My front suspension was overhauled a couple of years ago.
Last week I finally lowered my car to the ground for the first time in many many years. So, I want to fill the front dampers with oil. Is there any specific procedure for filling the dampers? Is there an air bleed on the top of the dampers? My oil reservoir is also freshly overhauled, so looking forward to seing the plunger in action ;D baby steps Title: Re: Filling the front dampers with oil for the first time Post by: impaw on 24 November, 2021, 05:03:47 PM things seem to be working correctly:
https://youtu.be/wW2caedMYhI however, new questions arise:) 1.how are the tubes routed originally? 2.how do I know when the dampers are topped up? Will the plunger simply cease to move? 3.what kind of tubes are used originally? I used clear PVC tubes now, so I could see the plunger working properly. Title: Re: Filling the front dampers with oil for the first time Post by: Brian Long on 14 December, 2021, 03:46:01 AM On my B12(RHD) the RHS tube goes through the inner mudguard about 10 cm forward of the reservoir.
The LHS tube drops down under the cover over the wiring loom and emerges from there and goes around under the bodywork supporting the bonnet latch, etc. It then emerges and goes through a hole in the LHS inner mudguard. The instruction plate on the reservoir says to add oil 'when the suspension is noisy'! The suspension will pump oil out if it is overfilled and make a mass on the strut and potentially drip onto your tyres when left stationary for any length of time. I would add e.g. one plunger-full at a time until you can ascertain that the shock absorbers are functioning correctly. You will probably need to run the car on the road so that any air will be pumped out by the action of the absorber (damper)The plunger will not stop and will overfill the shock absorber if you continue to use it. The driver's manual states 0.26 litre of SAE 20 but I think that is the reservoir capacity. The damper knob needs to be unwound to facilitate filling. Don't forget to fill the lower reservoir on the strut either. Tubes were black, oil resistant. Finally, leave the selector in the mid-way position in case of any leakage through it into a strut. Title: Re: Filling the front dampers with oil for the first time Post by: impaw on 14 December, 2021, 05:51:23 AM Thank you Brian!
That’s very good info. The car sits tall without its engine, and won’t see use in a couple of years. I will monitor the levels when I get it on the road. As of now the suspension is quite noisy when I give the car a downwards push, I guess there is still air in the damper. Thank you again! |