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Dampers need replacing?

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Dampers need replacing?
#1
  This topic is about my 1955 MG TF 1500
BuilderBob228 Robert Weinstein
Winnetka, IL, USA   USA
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1955 MG TF 1500
Continuing with my front end work. Testing dampers on car with all else removed by pushing arm with my hands. One damper very low on fluid. Little resistance on upswing of arm, a no resistance for almost half of downswing. Slowly added fluid continually pushing arm up and down. Did it a lot, both on and off the car (upside down) to try to get all air out. Did with cap both on and off. Now have about 1" of no resistance going down when arm is all the way up. and progressively less and less distance of no resistance when pulled down from a lower position. Have, good steady resistance the rest of the way down and entire up movement. Had similar situation with other one, although not as low on fluid and less no resistance drop, and now have steady resistance all the way up and down. .
Does first damper need replacing or is it a matter of continuing the up and down with the arm for longer time (I did do it a lot), or is this free drop something o be expected?
Thanks much..

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Re: Dampers need replacing?
#2
Paul J Avatar
Paul J Silver Member
Locust Grove, OK, USA   USA
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1955 MG TF 1500
There should be no free movement of the arm. Under normal driving conditions the shock arms only move very short distances, any free movement means the shock is not doing it's job. PJ

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Re: Dampers need replacing?
#3
plus4moggie Tom Lange
Bar Harbor, ME, USA   USA
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If you are low on fluid, you at least need new seals. While it is humanly possible to rebuild these things yourself, it is FAR better to send them off to World Wide Auto parts in Madison, WI, where Peter Caldwell will either exchange them for rebuilt units, or rebuild yours (ask). He offers a lifetime guarantee, so they are done RIGHT.

Some things re worth doing, some are not... Shocks are not really worth it, IMHO.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair

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Re: Dampers need replacing?
#4
Declan Burns Avatar
Declan Burns
Duesseldorf, NRW, Germany   DEU
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1952 MG TD
1964 Morris Minor 1000 Tourer "Moggy"
I would also recommend checking the rear ones while you are at it.
Regards
Declan

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Re: Dampers need replacing?
#5
maxxrider Maxx Ciderland (Disabled) (Disabled)
Disabled Account, Antarctica   ATA
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In reply to # 3456102 by plus4moggie
Some things re worth doing, some are not... Shocks are not really worth it, IMHO.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair

If one lacks the needed skills and/or tools to do it properly, I would agree. Otherwise it is
simply more time invested in ones hobby.

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Re: Dampers need replacing?
#6
ddubois Avatar
ddubois Dave DuBois (RIP)
Bremerton, WA, USA   USA
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I agree with Tom, particularly with the shocks for the TD. After getting all four shocks rebuilt by Peter, I found one of the rear shocks leaking after a short period of time. Sent it back and Peter fixed it for me. After the other rear shock started leaking and sent it back to be repaired, I got a call from Peter saying that he was unable to recreate the leak, but he felt that there was something wrong and he wanted to keep the shock and try to recreate the problem. Ultimately, he mounted the shock in a heavily used hall way and told everybody at World Wide to work the lever on the shock several times every time they passed by it. He finally got the shock to leak and found the source of the problem. He fixed that shock and told me to send the other one back to be fixed properly. That was close to 15 years ago and neither shock has leaked so much as a drop. You can't beat that for service to the customer.

I you want to fix your own shocks, have at it. When you get tired of fixing them repeatedly, send them to Peter.
Cheers,


Dave DuBois
1953 MGTD
1966 MGB
http://homepages.donobi.net/sufuelpumps/

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Re: Dampers need replacing?
#7
plus4moggie Tom Lange
Bar Harbor, ME, USA   USA
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Thanks, Dave, for that very telling account. Those specialists are the ones we should be supporting. I have heard 85% poor opinions of the two other advertising shock rebuilders, to whom one might logically go if one knew no better.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair

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Re: Dampers need replacing?
#8
mattg Avatar
mattg Matthew Gresalfi
Virginia Beach, VA, USA   USA
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1937 Dodge Ram 2500/3500
1952 MG TD
1952 Morris Oxford
I am going t be sending my shocks to World Wide. Peter emailed me explaining things and I was wondering he says he sends them back painted black, is that correct for a restoration or should they be natural?

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Re: Dampers need replacing?
#9
maxxrider Maxx Ciderland (Disabled) (Disabled)
Disabled Account, Antarctica   ATA
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Just from the conversation so far, and what Dave said about that leak, I already have a burning desire to know what it was that got past the fellow who has rebuilt so many of these at Worldwide. Sorta sounds like the apprentice used the wrong sealant towards the out side. OR...

I did go all through my shocks during the restoration, and in taking them all apart found the areas I felt was where wear was occurring and where leaks were likely to happen. Maybe I was just lucky to have everything salvageable? I don;t remember making any parts on a lathe.

In the 12 years since I have not detected any malfunction or leaks. If I had got them back together and they started leaking I would likely have given them one more try, and then if that second try failed and I had no clue, then would start looking for someone to rebuild them, and at that point I would consider them beyond my capabilities.

Most stuff like this in LBC's is pretty simple, really. Use of the wrong sealants in any number of places in them can cause a lot of problems, not to mention leaks. I find success and failure and trying something a second time if needed to all be a part of the fun of this hobby.

The advice to just send them off to be fixed is I bet good advice for a vast majority of owners. From what I can tell and remember there was no key part that was designed to be replaced at some point in there. Mostly it was a matter of failing gaskets and seals from old age. But like I say, maybe I just got lucky and the car I restored did not have a zillion miles on it and the dampers.

Just out of curiosity, what sort of cost is involved sending these out to be rebuilt at the Worldwide? Something like $140 each is my guess, just a guess.

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Re: Dampers need replacing?
#10
BuilderBob228 Robert Weinstein
Winnetka, IL, USA   USA
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1955 MG TF 1500
Since on one damper there is a small travel distance downward with no resistance I will get it rebuilt. Will use Peter. thanks again.

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Re: Dampers need replacing?
#11
Paul J Avatar
Paul J Silver Member
Locust Grove, OK, USA   USA
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1955 MG TF 1500
In reply to # 3456351 by mattg I am going t be sending my shocks to World Wide. Peter emailed me explaining things and I was wondering he says he sends them back painted black, is that correct for a restoration or should they be natural?
He'll do them anyway you want, but I believe they were painted black from the factory. I had him finish mine this way. PJ


Attachments:
tf grill 2.jpg    57.3 KB
tf grill 2.jpg

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Re: Dampers need replacing?
#12
plus4moggie Tom Lange
Bar Harbor, ME, USA   USA
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I would urge you to send both shocks to Peter, if for no other reason that he can match the one shock with the other. Different valving was originally available, and you might end up with two very different damper rates if you don't have both done at the same time.

And, as previously mentioned, if the fronts are bad, the rears are probably not too far behind, as it were.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair

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Re: Dampers need replacing?
#13
mattg Avatar
mattg Matthew Gresalfi
Virginia Beach, VA, USA   USA
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1937 Dodge Ram 2500/3500
1952 MG TD
1952 Morris Oxford
I was planning to send all 4.I try to do things right the first time but it seems I end up saying " why do it once when you can do it over and over and over again".more often then I like.confused smiley

I was going to have Peter rebuild mine rather then an exchange. I'm not sure if they are date coded and though it might not make a difference at this time someone might appreciate it 50 years from now.

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Re: Dampers need replacing?
#14
mattg Avatar
mattg Matthew Gresalfi
Virginia Beach, VA, USA   USA
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1937 Dodge Ram 2500/3500
1952 MG TD
1952 Morris Oxford
I like it natural also.
I did just take a good look at my 52 TD and 52 Morris Oxford (both I don't believe were ever apart) and both have small spots of black paint remaining.
Still leaning natural with black arms.

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Re: Dampers need replacing?
#15
aebreard Armand Breard
Monroe, LA, USA   USA
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1960 Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite
I sent my shocks off the '49 TC to Bob at Brit-Tek, 1-800-255-5883; he did a great job for less money than other quotes; got them back in about 30 days, painted black, and they work great. Armand

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