Convertible Hydraulic Cylinder Rebuild

[K50 DEL]

I wonder if anyone has a lead on a UK based company who can rebuild hydraulic cylinders from a convertible roof?
One of mine on the Gallardo has failed, rendering the roof inoperable and I'm struggling to find anyone outside of the US who can rebuild.

[Red9zero]

Maybe try Iain Tyrrell. If he can't help, he may be able to point you in the direction of someone who can.

[thatdude]

Do you know, or can you find out, if the part is specific to that car? It might be it's a generic item and a non-lambo branded part that is identical could be a cheaper replacment?

I'm only throwing it out there is it's not uncommon for this to be true, and if you cant get it rebuilt (cant see why it couldnt be rebuilt, if it went together it can come apart and go back together again right?) then you could look into that.

Good luck

[Red9zero]

thatdude said:

Do you know, or can you find out, if the part is specific to that car? It might be it's a generic item and a non-lambo branded part that is identical could be a cheaper replacment?

I'm only throwing it out there is it's not uncommon for this to be true, and if you cant get it rebuilt (cant see why it couldnt be rebuilt, if it went together it can come apart and go back together again right?) then you could look into that.

Good luck

It may be a standard VAG part, but I doubt it would be the same as in my old New Beetle cab Probably worth Googling the part number though.

[K50 DEL]

Thanks for the help so far, I'm told that to find that actual part number means removing the cylinder from the car, which then renders the roof insecure so I was trying to avoid doing that until I knew for certain that it could be rebuilt...

Interesting point about other manufacturers, an awful lot of the car so far isn't Lambo specific so the cylinder may very well be used in other cars.

[WPA]

I worked in the construction industry for many years, it would be worth speaking to one of the many hydraulic cylinder repair companies as I sure they could help as they are very simple internally.

[BananaFama]

What's the quote for a new Lamborghini replacement ?

A ridiculous price or not available ?

[K50 DEL]

WPA said:

I worked in the construction industry for many years, it would be worth speaking to one of the many hydraulic cylinder repair companies as I sure they could help as they are very simple internally.

I've spoken to a few this morning, they all say that car cylinders are too small and they only work on industrial... seems there's a niche in the UK market that noone's exploiting!

BananaFama said:

What's the quote for a new Lamborghini replacement ?

A ridiculous price or not available ?

Only available as part of a complete replacement of the entire roof system - yours for £6500 for the parts alone!!

[Hereward]

What is the actual issue? Leaking hydraulic fluid?

Are you comfortable effecting repairs yourself? Usually it will just be a hardened O-ring that needs replacing.

These guys are in Surrey, near Gatwick. They may be able to offer some advice over the phone:
https://caymanautos.co.uk/

[K50 DEL]

Hereward said:

What is the actual issue? Leaking hydraulic fluid?

Are you comfortable effecting repairs yourself? Usually it will just be a hardened O-ring that needs replacing.

These guys are in Surrey, near Gatwick. They may be able to offer some advice over the phone:
https://caymanautos.co.uk/

The actual issue is that the cylinder is apparently extending / retracting too far, which is tripping the microswitch and stopping the roof from opening. There is no actual leak.

RE Performance in Swindon (my local Lambo specialist) have provided this diagnosis and advised that cylinder rebuild (and microswitch replacement) is the cure.

[Benmac]

Is it one of these (they seem to be handed so there's an equivalent on the other side)? Eurospares seem to suggest they can be bought individually.

https://www.eurospares.co.uk/Parts/407871603/Lambo...

[WPA]

With all the specialist breakers around, can you not find one SH maybe.

[K50 DEL]

Benmac said:

Is it one of these (they seem to be handed so there's an equivalent on the other side)? Eurospares seem to suggest they can be bought individually.

https://www.eurospares.co.uk/Parts/407871603/Lambo...

It's not that one no, in the image you've linked it's the Left Hand horizontal ram that is covered by the assembly labelled 11 (covers the tail of the letter P of Eurospares)

[Benmac]

K50 DEL said:

It's not that one no, in the image you've linked it's the Left Hand horizontal ram that is covered by the assembly labelled 11 (covers the tail of the letter P of Eurospares)

Ouch, I see your issue! Their site does list that they're breaking a spyder and say the roof is good and working. Maybe worth enquiring to see what the part would be used although I think I'd still be trying the repair route as you are first, shame it's inaccessible to take some measurements etc without dismantling loads first.

Any chance it shares bits of the mechanism with a similar age R8?

[shtu]

Top tip - the first 3 digits of VAG part numbers are the model code, and can often be swapped for a different model.

It is likely that the R8 Spyder uses the same part.

Try looking for 4S7871603, eg https://www.lllparts.co.uk/product/hydraulic-cylin...

Better yet, A4 cabrio lists 8H0871603, https://www.ebay.com/itm/134659864455

any use?

Might also be something in the VW range - Passat CC or something.

Edited by shtu on Thursday 9th November 14:30

[K50 DEL]

shtu said:

Top tip - the first 3 digits of VAG part numbers are the model code, and can often be swapped for a different model.

It is likely that the R8 Spyder uses the same part.

Try looking for 4S7871603, eg https://www.lllparts.co.uk/product/hydraulic-cylin...

Better yet, A4 cabrio lists 8H0871603, https://www.ebay.com/itm/134659864455

any use?

Might also be something in the VW range - Passat CC or something.

Edited by shtu on Thursday 9th November 14:30

I'm very much liking the cost of the final option there lol, I'll see if i can get the part number from the actual cylinder as you suggest and go from there

[ian332isport]

K50 DEL said:

The actual issue is that the cylinder is apparently extending / retracting too far, which is tripping the microswitch and stopping the roof from opening..

That sounds a little unlikely to me. Hydraulic cylinders generally go from one end stop to the other. If you need it to stop somewhere in-between, you need a microswitch to signal the control valve that it needs to stop. Industrial control systems often have a pair of microswitches at each end. One for position control and the other at the extreme end of travel if the first switch didn't work for some reason.

If the cylinder is extending/retracting through its full travel and isn't leaking, I don't see how the cylinder is at fault. It could certainly be a microswitch problem though.

[K50 DEL]

ian332isport said:

K50 DEL said:

The actual issue is that the cylinder is apparently extending / retracting too far, which is tripping the microswitch and stopping the roof from opening..

That sounds a little unlikely to me. Hydraulic cylinders generally go from one end stop to the other. If you need it to stop somewhere in-between, you need a microswitch to signal the control valve that it needs to stop. Industrial control systems often have a pair of microswitches at each end. One for position control and the other at the extreme end of travel if the first switch didn't work for some reason.

If the cylinder is extending/retracting through its full travel and isn't leaking, I don't see how the cylinder is at fault. It could certainly be a microswitch problem though.

Co-incidentally I spoke to an ex Lambo factory tech today who had much the same opinion, he in turn chatted to a few of his colleagues who had also never seen a ram at fault before.... it is a strange one though, as if I pop my fingers up inside the fabric of the roof and pull down slightly on the ram, the roof works perfectly.

[ian332isport]

I suspect you've got a microswitch that's right on the hairy edge of switching. hopefully just a small adjustment.

Ideally you need to hook up some diagnostic software and view the state of the limit switches. I suspect you pulling on the cylinder is enough to get the switch to make/break and then it all works fine. With the diagnostic software, you would be able to see the switch changing state when you push/pull the cylinder.

I'm assuming you just press the roof control switch once to command it open or closed, as opposed to holding the switch while it opens or closes. If this is the case, it probably won't open if it can't see the closed switch is made, or vice versa. You pulling on the mechanism is probably enough to make the relevant switch, which will allow it to move.

Is the problem only at one end of travel or both?

[K50 DEL]

It’s just at the opening of the roof. If it’s open and i go to close it that’s all fine.

I’ll pass these suggestions on so thanks very much