General Re-oiled shocks!

[alexGS]

Problem: My Uno 60 with really soft suspension after 200,000km. Bounce test showed a couple of 'jiggles' after pushing down on the front wing, which was easy to push down. Naturally, car tended to wallow and wander at speeds, kinda fun... but not really very good.

Solution: re-oiled shocks.
This can't be done (of course) because the struts are sealed.
(1) Remove strut from car, use spring compressors, and remove spring/mount etc.
(2) Drill hole (you can see where in pic).
(3) Put in a short self-tapping screw (screw must not be longer than ~7mm).
(3) Drain out approx. 170mL of green water-like oil by operating shock spindle in and out until unit feels completely 'dry'.
(4) Make up some sort of squeeze-bottle with fine nozzle (see pic).
(5) Decide whether to use ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid) or engine oil. I trial-filled a spare shock with ATF and it didn't feel very stiff, so instead I opted for Mobil 1 5W/50 fully-synthetic oil (better than original shock oil? )
(6) Pour about 170mL of oil into squeeze-bottle.
(7) Invert over drilled hole and operate shock spindle to suck in oil and expel air. It takes some time before the shock spindle starts to be 'damped'.
(8) Fit self-tapping screw with fibre washer coated in gasket sealant (I use Loctite red master gasket - not silicone)
(9) Test shock absorber several times. You should find it much harder to pull out than compress, and much harder than before. Make sure that screw doesn't leak.
(10) Refit spring and refit strut to car. And do the other side...

I'm stoked with the result!
Drives like 'new' (I haven't driven a new Uno so can't be certain, but I have fitted new shocks before and they weren't any better than this... so I saved at least $150).

-Alex

 

[dave]

loony shocks should have an anti foaming oil in them, i would not trust what you have done at all sorry.

 

[alexGS]

Ah, so you have not rebuilt FIAT 128 shock absorbers before? ;-)
And also, you don't think that Mobil 1 would be 'anti foaming'?

Take a look at http://www.fordbarn.com/earlyv8/forum03/messages/71847.htm
if you have time.

-Alex

 

[dave]

Ah, so you have not rebuilt FIAT 128 shock absorbers before? ;-)
And also, you don't think that Mobil 1 would be 'anti foaming'?

no but have done a lot of jacks an things, even brake fluid is not anti foaming, i would have thought you would be better off using jack oil, if you must do it, are new shocks a lot of money in your country then?

 

[alexGS]

Hmm, OK, I only mentioned the 128 shocks because I have experimented with different fluids in 128 shock absorbers for racing, as have many others around these parts. 128 shocks have a threaded gland fitting which comes off and allows the shock to be stripped, cleaned, and re-oiled. Although the Uno shocks don't allow for quite this serviceability, it is possible to change the oil which seems to restore performance. I've done about ten hours driving now and it still feels great.

By the way, there's no way that I'd use brake fluid in shocks. Engine oil is the common choice, I happen to like Mobil 1 because of its lower viscosity. Or you can use ATF which is similar in viscosity to standard fluid, and of course ATF is also high-performance (non-foaming, stable with temperature, and so on).

I can see that jack oil might be a good idea, except that (a) the viscosity might be wrong, and (b) jacks don't seem to get very hot, so I would wonder about whether jack oil contains any viscosity-index-improvers (which of course engine oil does). Also, what about the cost - this is a low-budget job, remember!

As for your question, well sort-of a lot of money... the price would be about $180 which could buy about three week's groceries and fill up my car... or to put it another way, $180 is two weeks of my current income!

-Alex

 

[dave]

that is a lot of money, i wonder how much it would cost to post some over.

 

[alexGS]

Actually it's not much money Dave, it's about 67 pounds sterling...

I should get a 'real' job again. I bought new shocks for my Uno Turbo but didn't really think it was worth it, since I was used to being able to choose my own damping rates on the 128 (!)

-Alex

 

[Jemmy]

Hi.. everybody...
Alex, re-oiled shocks is not a special act anymore here in my country.... much people or workshop/garage did that... hi ... hi ... hi. because shocks are very expensive here in Indonesia, and if there is another way to fix our car without buying any parts... it's very great .... For information 1 Poundsterling same as 15,000 Rupiah (our curency) So many people do some unique and some are unsafe way to fix the car.
Re-oil the shocks can be done if there is no leak at the seal. I had done that before, using ATF and it stands for one year before it seal leak... he...he... but its save money. Here in indonesia a set of Uno Shocks price is 750,000 - 1,000,000 (3/4 - 1 milion) Rupiah . Ufffhhhhh....
Anyway, here we have many tips for DIY. I will write it someday here in the forum, but i can't quarantty the Qlty and Safe . He...he...he

 

[mtimm]

I have re-oiled shocks in the past mostly for competition use and only shocks thal allowed it by design ie. no drilling. My concern wouldnt be slight leaks but that under the pressure of conering the screw not designed as a plug to hold back hydraulic pressure would come out of the steel in the shock which isnt designed to hold any type of screw. the end result wouldnt be anything like soft shocks but more like a blow out. There is no way I would use this idea.