Shocks

[Parrot of Doom]

At 242,000 miles, I've noticed the ride has become a little sensitive of late. On emergency braking (avoiding a deer on the M180) the car almost went on its nose, and traversing minor patches in the road I can feel everything through the driver's seat.

Time for new shocks? Trouble is, its a shed, but I'm quite fond of it and would like to see 300,000 on it.

[no-worries88]

Parrot of Doom said:

At 242,000 miles, I've noticed the ride has become a little sensitive of late. On emergency braking (avoiding a deer on the M180) the car almost went on its nose, and traversing minor patches in the road I can feel everything through the driver's seat.

Time for new shocks? Trouble is, its a shed, but I'm quite fond of it and would like to see 300,000 on it.

Hard to let go eh? ha

[OnTheOverrun]

Dampers, not shocks.

And yes, they may well be due for renewal before they hit the quarter million mile mark!

[Parrot of Doom]

Its a great car, just rusty. Horribly rusty.

For blasting up and down the motorway in silence, however, its great. And its old and battered enough now that I don't give a ste if it gets scratched. I do, however, want it to be safe.

[dan19evans]

OnTheOverrun said:

Dampers, not shocks.

And yes, they may well be due for renewal before they hit the quarter million mile mark!

This. and yes.. dampers, not shocks

[WhoseGeneration]

Parrot of Doom said:

At 242,000 miles, I've noticed the ride has become a little sensitive of late. On emergency braking (avoiding a deer on the M180) the car almost went on its nose, and traversing minor patches in the road I can feel everything through the driver's seat.

Time for new shocks? Trouble is, its a shed, but I'm quite fond of it and would like to see 300,000 on it.

What is it, cost might decide as might whether you can fit yourself.

[Shropshiremike]

Parrot of Doom said:

At 242,000 miles, I've noticed the ride has become a little sensitive of late. On emergency braking (avoiding a deer on the M180) the car almost went on its nose, and traversing minor patches in the road I can feel everything through the driver's seat.

Time for new shocks? Trouble is, its a shed, but I'm quite fond of it and would like to see 300,000 on it.

Leftfield suggestion perhaps...but have you tried Afrika shocks......?

[HellDiver]

242k? They're only 142k overdue replacement, you've plenty of miles left in them yet.

Don't they do a damper test in the MOT in England, or have they not progressed to proper suspension checks yet?

[Mr2Mike]

HellDiver said:

242k? They're only 142k overdue replacement, you've plenty of miles left in them yet.

Do Mercs actually have a 100k service interval on dampers?

[HellDiver]

Mr2Mike said:

HellDiver said:

242k? They're only 142k overdue replacement, you've plenty of miles left in them yet.

Do Mercs actually have a 100k service interval on dampers?

No, but it's common knowledge that dampers are fked by 100k. Any car I've driven with 100k on the dampers have been wobbly deathtraps (and I'm including BMW, Merc, VW, Vauxhall, Ford, etc).

At work here the dampers are changed routinely at 80k on all cars, from diesel Focii to X5 and everything between.

[Parrot of Doom]

Hmmm, think I'll change them then Easy DIY job I reckon.

[Mr2Mike]

HellDiver said:

No, but it's common knowledge that dampers are fked by 100k.

They might be, might not be; all depends on the cars usage. Motorway driving puts far less wear on suspension than driving through potholed B roads.

[Parrot of Doom]

Ok buying two new fronts tomorrow, and fitting them. The rears will have to wait until next week. Checked the mounts today, two easily-accessible nuts/bolt at the bottom, one at the top. Sprayed them with oil, should be easy enough.

[dan19evans]

Parrot of Doom said:

Ok buying two new fronts tomorrow, and fitting them. The rears will have to wait until next week. Checked the mounts today, two easily-accessible nuts/bolt at the bottom, one at the top. Sprayed them with oil, should be easy enough.

straight forward job mate.. a monkey in a wetsuit could do it

[aw51 121565]

If the oil doesn't free off any seized bolts, try Plusgas .

[john_p]

Parrot of Doom said:

Hmmm, think I'll change them then Easy DIY job I reckon.

*BOING*

spring flies off into orbit

[dan19evans]

john_p said:

Parrot of Doom said:

Hmmm, think I'll change them then Easy DIY job I reckon.

*BOING*

spring flies off into orbit

[Parrot of Doom]

john_p said:

Parrot of Doom said:

Hmmm, think I'll change them then Easy DIY job I reckon.

*BOING*

spring flies off into orbit

haha, this car doesn't have your fancy coilovers





The bottom nut/bolts were a bit of a bh to remove, on one I had to wedge a ring spanner on one side, and use my foot on the ratchet on the other, all the way off. Wasn't too bad though.



Car now feels much better. Hardly any body roll, can feel the wheels hitting speed bumps instead of the thing wobbling like jelly. The nearside shock was completely knackered, hardly any resistance. Offside shock wasn't too bad in that respect.

Took about 40 minutes per side.

[HellDiver]

Good show.