Spax Shock leaking

Author
Discussion

SprintV8

Original Poster:

261 posts

233 months

Friday 21st December 2018
quotequote all
Pair of Spax Adjusable shocks fitted in June.
One is leaking oil

What’s the verdict from you in the know.

Send them back for inspection or leave them alone.
MOT next month


thetrickcyclist

239 posts

66 months

Friday 21st December 2018
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Can't see a leaking shock being conclusive to a mot pass....

GreenV8S

30,209 posts

285 months

Friday 21st December 2018
quotequote all
If it's leaking, it's going to fail. Six months is far short of the expected life of a damper so if that was me I'd be looking for a replacement under warranty.

ETA I mean fail as in stop working. If there is a visible leak or the damper failed the 'bounce test'' at MOT time that would fail the MOT and I suspect would be classified as dangerous i.e. you would not be legal to drive home.

Edited by GreenV8S on Friday 21st December 19:14

SprintV8

Original Poster:

261 posts

233 months

Saturday 5th January 2019
quotequote all
Reply from Spax.

We received these in house, they have been stripped, tested. Dyno’d, rebuilt, no fault has been found.

These units are gas pressurised and maintain their gas with the piston returning to full extension after compression. The dyno report has previously been sent to you, showing matched response.

Sometimes, when dampers are fitted, if they are over extended then oil can escape past the seal, however both of these dampers show a matched response and were not lacking in oil. We have sold these shocks into other customers across Europe without complaint and this is the first warranty claim we have ever received for the part number. I assure you that we have inspected and tested the returned items and they work, and adjust, without issue and we cannot replicate any oil leak on the test rig at the factory.

We have offered to return the dampers to the customer free of charge. If you have a suggestion regarding your ideal solution to this issue please advise for consideration.

Emanresu

311 posts

90 months

Saturday 5th January 2019
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SprintV8 said:
Reply from Spax.

Sometimes, when dampers are fitted, if they are over extended then oil can escape past the seal, however both of these dampers show a matched response and were not lacking in oil. We have sold these shocks into other customers across Europe without complaint and this is the first warranty claim we have ever received for the part number. I assure you that we have inspected and tested the returned items and they work, and adjust, without issue and we cannot replicate any oil leak on the test rig at the factory.
So you ran them with the wrong springs?

stevieturbo

17,271 posts

248 months

Saturday 5th January 2019
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So that's a good result then ?

Did you ever try just cleaning them to see if those markings re-appeared

SprintV8

Original Poster:

261 posts

233 months

Sunday 6th January 2019
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Emanresu said:
So you ran them with the wrong springs?
Mercedes has the lower Sports Suspension set up from factory.
There’s only one shock listed for the Mercedes so I would say the correct springs are fitted.


SprintV8

Original Poster:

261 posts

233 months

Sunday 6th January 2019
quotequote all
stevieturbo said:
So that's a good result then ?

Did you ever try just cleaning them to see if those markings re-appeared
Didn’t clean them just sent them Back.