AVO Shocker

[anonymous-user]

RobXjcoupe said:

So if a rubber bush is used the mount ends should look similar in design to the picture below

I think this is exactly what is needed. Bang on.

[anonymous-user]

AVO have been extremely helpful and are looking into this. It seems their ‘customer service’ side really wants to get this sorted.

I would encourage anyone with shot bushes to send them photos as it will help them to understand the issue.

[anonymous-user]

Dollyman1850 said:

we will agree to disagree on that one.

Looks like it. But there’s no way solid bushes are a good idea on a road car and possibly even on a tractable road/track car. Why anyone would promote a track setup for general road use is beyond me.

[RobXjcoupe]

V6 Pushfit said:

RobXjcoupe said:

So if a rubber bush is used the mount ends should look similar in design to the picture below

I think this is exactly what is needed. Bang on.

Fingers crossed avo redesign the ends for bush use.

[nwarner]

V6 Pushfit said:

AVO have been extremely helpful and are looking into this. It seems their ‘customer service’ side really wants to get this sorted.

I would encourage anyone with shot bushes to send them photos as it will help them to understand the issue.

I have sent them the pictures I put on here and they are sending me replacements. I can't fault their customer service.

Nige

[Andrew Gray]

Having had AVOs on all my cars for years I have apart from the issues with the earlier bush which they changed a number of years ago and replaced the bushes on my older ones with modified ones about 4 years Ago.
My Vixen has a mix of the old and new from when I switched to 4 at the rear instead of two as it was when I bought her

I have taken these pictures today as I was made aware of the post.

I have checked the Vixen as she does more work than any of my cars 6000 miles this year alone.

So these shocks have done about 30 000 miles.
Along with track days and hill climb etc so I work them hard.

I suspect some may be fitting them with all thread bolts or at least some thread in the sleeve.
If that is the case there will be movement that will effect the bush I suspect.
I always use longer bolts that can be trimmed back in any sleeve we’ll be it shocks or trunnions as that movement that appears is not good.

However the pictures here show my experience over considerable use and hard driving

[Andrew Gray]

Sorry the second picture did not load

[anonymous-user]

Andrew Gray said:

Sorry the second picture did not load

?? That doesn’t look like a top hat bush can you do a side photo?

And are you absolutely sure you’ve done that mileage it seems like a lot !!

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 28th July 09:18

[Andrew Gray]

Alistair
That is the older style bush
Avo replaced these when there was the issue with earlier bush before they altered the design
The other one is of the new pair that i added when i went from two to four on the rear.
So my Vixen is running bot old and new style and this was changed about 6 years ago and both styles have now done a lot of work and no issues whatsoever.
Andrew

[Andrew Gray]

Alistair
That is the older style bush
Avo replaced these when there was the issue with earlier bush before they altered the design
The other one is of the new pair that i added when i went from two to four on the rear.
So my Vixen is running bot old and new style and this was changed about 6 years ago and both styles have now done a lot of work and no issues whatsoever.
Andrew

[anonymous-user]

Andrew Gray said:

That is the older style bush
Avo replaced these when there was the issue with earlier bush before they altered the design
The other one is of the new pair that i added when i went from two to four on the rear.
So my Vixen is running bot old and new style and this was changed about 6 years ago and both styles have now done a lot of work and no issues whatsoever.
Andrew

It’s not possible to see the bush wear without removing a shock or jacking carefully, but 6000 miles still seems a lot - have a look at the MOT history that’ll tell you accurately - I doubt I’ve done more than 2000 in the last 5 years (mind you it’s not been on 4 wheels for most of that.

[LLantrisant]

V6 Pushfit said:

Just a plain tube

Edited by V6 Pushfit on Friday 22 July 19:49

i have already posted my opinion above and want to repeat it:

from this pic it looks as the chassis-brackets clamp the bush and not the inner sleeve, hence the bshes MUST wear.

we can discuss endless here...imo, the damage is caused by wrong fitment.

[spitfire4v8]

poly is completely unsuitable for use as a damper bush, the load is only taken by one side of the bush which will be crushed flat and cause the bush to split. What you need is a good quality bonded rubber bush.
Avo have known about the splitting poly bushes for , oo, 10 to 15 years ?

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

you could probably find earlier posts if you look further than the first result on google.

I stopped using avo dampers maybe 15 years ago and have no plans to go back to them ever.

[Andrew Gray]

On the milage Alistair

This last 12 months alone

Two Goodwood members meetings
300 miles a weekend

Two events at Brooklands
200 miles each

Track Day at Blighton
Track day at Millbrook

12 day trip to Monaco and then on through the alps to Spa and back 2500 miles
Second time she has done this trip

She has done the Spa trip nearly every year

Then Le Mans Classic last month
1000 miles

Plus used her as my daily while the Truck was off getting a new chassis

[anonymous-user]

LLantrisant said:

i have already posted my opinion above and want to repeat it:

from this pic it looks as the chassis-brackets clamp the bush and not the inner sleeve, hence the bshes MUST wear.

we can discuss endless here...imo, the damage is caused by wrong fitment.

The sleeve is solidly clamped in that photo. The nut gets to a point of locking up when clamped so it’s difficult not to get wrong. I don’t get how you think you can ‘see’ the sleeve when it’s not visible.

AVO supply the sleeve and bush. The sleeve extends beyond the bush. The only way the fitment could be wrong would be:

1. The welded chassis tabs are significantly bent due to over tightening of the bolt. Almost impossible as they clamp the sleeve.
2. There is an issue with the AVO design of the bush.

Given the above which do you think it is?

[anonymous-user]

spitfire4v8 said:

poly is completely unsuitable for use as a damper bush, the load is only taken by one side of the bush which will be crushed flat and cause the bush to split. What you need is a good quality bonded rubber bush.
Avo have known about the splitting poly bushes for , oo, 10 to 15 years ?

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

you could probably find earlier posts if you look further than the first result on google.

I stopped using avo dampers maybe 15 years ago and have no plans to go back to them ever.

Yes the material is clearly not up to it, and what you say there is bang on correct IMO.

I looked briefly earlier and other poly bush suppliers don’t appear to offer them as shock absorber bushes let alone split ones. (VERY happy to be proved wrong on this?)

A bonded rubber bush would sort this.

I believe there is an issue with the AVO bushes and it may not be visible (well frankly it isn’t visible) by looking at the setup in situ. Bolting it together can’t easily be done wrong.

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 28th July 19:31

[LLantrisant]

V6 Pushfit said:

Yes the material is clearly not up to it, and what you say there is bang on correct IMO.

I looked briefly earlier and other poly bush suppliers don’t appear to offer them as shock absorber bushes let alone split ones. (VERY happy to be proved wrong on this?)

A bonded rubber bush would sort this.

I believe there is an issue with the AVO bushes and it may not be visible (well frankly it isn’t visible) by looking at the setup in situ. Bolting it together can’t easily be done wrong.

Edited by V6 Pushfit on Thursday 28th July 19:31

in the above pic you can (imo clearly) see, that the chassis-brackets clamp the bush.
if they would clamp the sleeve, you should see a small gap between bracket and red bush...but there isnt any gap.

the other pic, showing the damage, is also indicating that the bush has rotated and has destroyed itselves at the bracket.

[anonymous-user]

LLantrisant said:

in the above pic you can (imo clearly) see, that the chassis-brackets clamp the bush.
if they would clamp the sleeve, you should see a small gap between bracket and red bush...but there isnt any gap.

the other pic, showing the damage, is also indicating that the bush has rotated and has destroyed itselves at the bracket.

And I said:

V6 Pushfit said:

:

The sleeve is solidly clamped in that photo. The nut gets to a point of locking up when clamped so it’s difficult not to get wrong. I don’t get how you think you can ‘see’ the sleeve when it’s not visible.

AVO supply the sleeve and bush. The sleeve extends beyond the bush. The only way the fitment could be wrong would be:

1. The welded chassis tabs are significantly bent due to over tightening of the bolt. Almost impossible as they clamp the sleeve.
2. There is an issue with the AVO design of the bush.

Given the above which do you think it is?

…. Clue: it’s number 2.

[RobXjcoupe]

Just a thought. If the bushes are being clamped when tightening up. Maybe you need to just nip the bolts until the car is sitting on the ground, loading the suspension. Then torque up the bolts. That will make a huge difference and stop the bush being twisted beyond its material capacity.

[anonymous-user]

RobXjcoupe said:

Just a thought. If the bushes are being clamped when tightening up. Maybe you need to just nip the bolts until the car is sitting on the ground, loading the suspension. Then torque up the bolts. That will make a huge difference and stop the bush being twisted beyond its material capacity.

That’s the way it’s done, but the main issue is the bushes going oval, this has given up to 5mm movement in the bush as shows the bush material is not up to the job