AVO shocks any problems
Discussion
I have posted this topic on the tam/350/sag section as I have a tamora.
But wanted to know if any other model has had the same problem.
Recently fitted a set AVO shocks.
All well for the first couple of weeks then the bushes failed on the back, Last week I had the bushes replaced. A week later they have failed again ( Not HP ) . After a few emails with AVO they are aware of the problem and now have sent me a set of bearings to replace the bushes. Well in there wisdom only sent me the rears . So I have emailed them to me send the fronts.
The shocks do seem ok but cant believe they send them out knowing that the bushes fail on TVRs.
Has anyone else had this problem sure I am not only one ?
But wanted to know if any other model has had the same problem.
Recently fitted a set AVO shocks.
All well for the first couple of weeks then the bushes failed on the back, Last week I had the bushes replaced. A week later they have failed again ( Not HP ) . After a few emails with AVO they are aware of the problem and now have sent me a set of bearings to replace the bushes. Well in there wisdom only sent me the rears . So I have emailed them to me send the fronts.
The shocks do seem ok but cant believe they send them out knowing that the bushes fail on TVRs.
Has anyone else had this problem sure I am not only one ?
I know someone who has had to replace two sets of bushes, on mine one of them leaked so I then decided to go over to protechs, the AVOs could have been refurbished by AVO but it would have meant the car would be put of action, I am really happy with what I have got now as there are now no bushes to worry about.
Mate had AVO coilovers on the Chim 450 he picked-up last week. He hit a pothole on the road and tore the oleo strut out of the damping unit on one of the coilovers. According to the history with the car this had happened before, the previous owner having had to replace one of the AVO units for a similar incident previously. I realise that hitting potholes isn't exactly 'normal' use, and don't know if it is a problem inherent with the coilovers themselves or they way they had been installed or setup?
Said mate has had them removed and Gaz Nickels fitted in place of the AVOs
Said mate has had them removed and Gaz Nickels fitted in place of the AVOs
*TVR* gaz said:
I have posted this topic on the tam/350/sag section as I have a tamora.
But wanted to know if any other model has had the same problem.
Recently fitted a set AVO shocks.
All well for the first couple of weeks then the bushes failed on the back, Last week I had the bushes replaced. A week later they have failed again ( Not HP ) . After a few emails with AVO they are aware of the problem and now have sent me a set of bearings to replace the bushes. Well in there wisdom only sent me the rears . So I have emailed them to me send the fronts.
The shocks do seem ok but cant believe they send them out knowing that the bushes fail on TVRs.
Has anyone else had this problem sure I am not only one ?
In what way do they fail? I've had the same set of AVOs on my race car for 12 or 13 years now and only had to replace the bushes 2 or 3 times due to them squashing at the bottom.But wanted to know if any other model has had the same problem.
Recently fitted a set AVO shocks.
All well for the first couple of weeks then the bushes failed on the back, Last week I had the bushes replaced. A week later they have failed again ( Not HP ) . After a few emails with AVO they are aware of the problem and now have sent me a set of bearings to replace the bushes. Well in there wisdom only sent me the rears . So I have emailed them to me send the fronts.
The shocks do seem ok but cant believe they send them out knowing that the bushes fail on TVRs.
Has anyone else had this problem sure I am not only one ?
The problem is the AVO's are really designed to be used with spherical bearings rather than bushes, the eyelet which carries the bush on the AVO's has 2 grooves machined in it to carry the circlips which hold the spherical bearing in place and when bushes are fitted these grooves destroy the bushes,AVO have known about the problem for years but still keep sending them out with bushes in, hence we don't fit them anymore!
jagracer said:
kevin63 said:
There are a few different grades and types of AVOs, mine were the cheaper ones.
Mine were the basic ones as well, they are fitted with the rubber/metalistic bushes.
sportmotive said:
The problem is the AVO's are really designed to be used with spherical bearings rather than bushes, the eyelet which carries the bush on the AVO's has 2 grooves machined in it to carry the circlips which hold the spherical bearing in place and when bushes are fitted these grooves destroy the bushes,AVO have known about the problem for years but still keep sending them out with bushes in, hence we don't fit them anymore!
Its a shame AVO dont advise this and just send them out with poly`s. The extra cost would have been a lot cheaper than keep returning to the garage for replacements.Shame cos the shocks do seem quite good just a couple of pence item letting them down. If they would have spent a couple of quid extra and sent them out with bearing maybe they would have sold a lot more ?.
Hi, I'm the guy speedtwelve is talking about, I'm adding a couple of photos to prove just how poor I think the AVOs are. I'll also show you a picture of the "pot hole" not as bad as I thought it would be when I went back and took a photo for my claim against the council. In the paperwork that came with the car there was a reciept for fixing exactly the same problem on the rear left suspension. I have fitted the Gaz Nickles now and they are a lot more chunky and rugged looking! 
To be honest I haven't been in touch with AVO, I didn't buy them the previous owner did and I am making a claim from the council. Can't say I would reccomend them though. There is a warranty in the cars paperwork if I'm not successful with the council I might speak to AVO. I think you might be looking else where though?
were was the pot hole, all I saw was a grating and some wear on the road round the grating.
Are you sure it was the pot hole which caused this to fail, or the age of the unit itself at fault.
How old is the shock?
As for AVO, I have run a pair on the rear of my Chimaera since 2000 with no problems.
I will be replacing all 4 shocks this year and am looking at the Gaz shocks, but thats due to speaking with the Gaz man for years and finally he is bringing me over to the Gaz side.
Colin L
Are you sure it was the pot hole which caused this to fail, or the age of the unit itself at fault.
How old is the shock?
As for AVO, I have run a pair on the rear of my Chimaera since 2000 with no problems.
I will be replacing all 4 shocks this year and am looking at the Gaz shocks, but thats due to speaking with the Gaz man for years and finally he is bringing me over to the Gaz side.
Colin L
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