Mini Cooper S JCW 2005 front shock absorbers..

Mini Cooper S JCW 2005 front shock absorbers..

Author
Discussion

3xpendable

Original Poster:

230 posts

109 months

Thursday 14th May 2015
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As standard, would they be gas or oil filled? I noticed an odd wet patch right under the N/S/F bumper on mine yesterday. I looked in that area and couldn't see any leaks. The only thing I found was the lower part of the shock absorber was dark (wet dark) along with the lower wishbone, but all this was BEHIND the dark patch on the floor. I've had a quick look and can't see anything else to cause this so assume the shock absorber is leaking. However, looking online quickly, the replacements seem to be gas. If the original is gas then it's not wetness from the shock?

Also, if it isn't the shock where else could it be coming from? I'll check the water tomorrow when the weather is better but it was on the extreme edge of the car, under the N/S/F indicator, so it seems too far away to be coolant plus the wet patch was still there this morning on the driveway, leading me to think it's oil based.

Thanks

ch427

8,864 posts

232 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
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Check the engine mount, they are oil filled and can leak.

andyiley

9,106 posts

151 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
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OF course what you say about gas or oil filled is wrong anyway, as they all have oil for damping, the gas is just for pressurisation.

hygt2

419 posts

178 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
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andyiley said:
OF course what you say about gas or oil filled is wrong anyway, as they all have oil for damping, the gas is just for pressurisation.
+1.
Pure gas (or pure air) is not an effective energy absorber agent at all. All shock absorbers have fluids in them.

CarsOrBikes

1,135 posts

183 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2015
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I'd be inclined to brake cleaner it all off and monitor it. It won't be the engine mount suggested as that's the drivers one and you said nsf. Is it definitely oil? Has you car got headlamp washers? Any other oil leak? Sump, pas, d/shaft etc. Like I say cleaning it is a help perhaps.

The Wookie

13,909 posts

227 months

Wednesday 3rd June 2015
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If it's losing oil then chances are it's lost its gas too if it's a twin-tube (which means it will likely cavitate and clonk over big bumps), but it might be a monotube on the JCW.

If it's a monotube then, as said, probably fine to just keep an eye on it for now. If it starts clonking over big bumps then time to change.

irob

121 posts

149 months

Thursday 4th June 2015
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Just suffered similar problems with my MINI, although mine is a boggo 2005 Cooper S. I thought it was an engine oil leak. There was a puddle under the car and the whole arch liner was splattered with the stuff. I thought perhaps it was coming from the oil filter/cooler area or maybe from behind one of the pulleys.
Got the car up in the air with the wheel off and I found the shock was shot. The oil was too clean to be motor oil and my dipstick reading hadn't changed.
I degreased the whole area, in fact I cleaned everything and kept an eye on it whilst waiting for my new dampers to arrive.