Should you be able to compress a damper by hand?

[DanielJames]

Quick question

If the damper wasn't under load from a spring, should you be able to easily compress it by hand?

I ask this as I noticed you could do this with the coilovers I fitted to my Integra yesterday, and the car seems a bit too bouncy now (as though there isn't much damping going on)

Cheers
Dan

[Rollcage]

What make coilovers?

Could be all sorts of things leading to "bounciness"

[Evoluzione]

It depends how strong you are.
If the damper has leaked you will see the oil stains. Maybe you've fitted the wrong rate of spring for the damper.

[The Wookie]

There should be gas pressure inside them that makes them difficult to compress but unless its excessive (which on some setups it can be) then you should be able to press it with some effort. Some typically low performance setups have little or no gas pressure and can be compressed easily, but obviously there should be some force that you have to work against in both directions.

If its a monotube then an easy way to tell if its knackered is to move it back and forth in its stroke and feel if the force drops off or it 'jumps' at any point, particularly on the direction change.

With a twin tube damper, it should work OK even without gas pressure (although it will cavitate in use), and if you move it back and forth for a while whilst upright then it should reprime and work smoothly eventually.

[williamp]

Yes you can. I have fitted adjustable dampers where you took out some packing, fully compressed them then turned to adjust the rate. It was hard and getting harder, but certainly possible. I think these were Koni's, and new

[DanielJames]

They are Cusco coilovers, but have been fitted with custom springs

So say the spring wasn't in place, would you be able to compress it?

I'll give it the wheeler dealer Ed China bounce test later

[buggalugs]

Yes dampers can usually be moved by hand.

[DanielJames]

Think it must be the springs then, may try the buddyclub springs I have on them.

No visible leaks btw, thanks for the help