Rear Damper shot

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martins
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Rear Damper shot

Post by martins » Sun Apr 10, 2011 9:35 pm

Burger Burger Burger

Parked the car in the garage then noticed some small oily stains on the drive. Checked passenger rear corner and sure enough bottom of the damper covered in fluid which was then running onto the handbrake cable and dripping off same and onto the drive. Had noticed strange noise from that corner recently but thought it was something in the air filter. Now I know otherwise. :(

I now need to replace either all shocks/dampers or just the back ones. Presently on yellow Bilsteins.

Suggestions please from those who know best. Also what make. Mostly road use but also up to 6 track days per annum.

Is there anything else I should do while replacing, other then the Geo. being an Aberdonian I already perchased the discounted alignment package on Groupon advertised on here last week :D

Car is an Elise S2, 111R.

Martin
Last edited by martins on Sun Apr 10, 2011 9:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Rich H
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Re: Rear Spring shot

Post by Rich H » Sun Apr 10, 2011 9:53 pm

If you are happy with standard then replace like for like. If it's just the damper then change the damper and keep the spring if it's OK.
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Re: Rear Damper shot

Post by j2 lot » Sun Apr 10, 2011 10:49 pm

Nitrons :thumbsup
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martins
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Re: Rear Damper shot

Post by martins » Sun Apr 10, 2011 11:24 pm

Just bought nearly new Exige Springs and Dampers off Ebay :D

Do not really want to spend lots on upgrades right now as if future goes according to plan the car will be sold later this summer :P

Anyone want to but a pair of Elise 111r front springs and one rear for £150.... 8)

Martin
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martins
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Re: Rear Damper shot

Post by martins » Mon Apr 11, 2011 2:40 pm

Anyone know the torque settings for the 2 bolts which hold the dampers in place and are there any pitfalls I need to look out for when swapping the new for old? :?

Martin
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Rich H
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Re: Rear Damper shot

Post by Rich H » Mon Apr 11, 2011 2:49 pm

Some.

Use new nylock nuts and do them up firmly (3 white nuckles and 2 beads of sweat) - jobs a carrot.
Or it's probably in the manual...
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martins
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Re: Rear Damper shot

Post by martins » Mon Apr 11, 2011 4:37 pm

For fear of being ridiculed in public, I really should not ask.

What Manual?

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campbell
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Re: Rear Damper shot

Post by campbell » Mon Apr 11, 2011 4:54 pm

Service manual. A big heavy book with lots of geekery yet useful and valuable info in it, alternatively it pops up in PDF format on t'internet from time to time.

As Rich says, damper bolts are to be "nice n tight" however don't use a big handle or you will strip the thread, as I did...

Clearly we should have a proper torque setting, someone knowledgeable will be along with the details in a minute.
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martins
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Re: Rear Damper shot

Post by martins » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:13 pm

Many Thanks.

'Nice n Tight' I can do, but this gotten me in trouble before so I would prefer a torque setting to stop me going nuts. Will have a look at the manual these evening. Have time as it will most likely be the end of the week until the new gear arrives...

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woody
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Re: Rear Damper shot

Post by woody » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:20 pm

Remember and have the suspension in the same position it will sit when you torque the bolts.

I measure the arch to centre point of the wheel before jacking it up. Then, when the car is on stands, jack the lower suspension arm so the hub centre is at the same point as measured.
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Re: Rear Damper shot

Post by campbell » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:22 pm

I was curious, and can save you the trouble. Well for S1 settings at least!

Top and bottom bolts both 45Nm each.

IIRC, S1 wheel nuts are about 80Nm, which with a regular cross wheel brace is "tight without straining".

Assuming your socket handle or wrench is half the length of a regular wheelbrace (I have a Halfords 3/8" set with a handle almost precisely that size, ie about 8" or so) then "tight without straining" will probably get you pretty close to the target of roughly half the wheelnut torque.

Not that I am an expert by any means, and as I said before I've been mad enough to strip a damper mount bolt so what do I know?! ;-)

Oh and good point from Woody. Once heard about that. Never done it though :roll:
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martins
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Re: Rear Damper shot

Post by martins » Mon Apr 11, 2011 10:33 pm

Have removed the offending damper/spring and decided to clean the Hurricane filter while in the nearside arch. Anyone know how to clean properly. Fitted last year so this is the first clean. It really is manky.

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Stu160
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Re: Rear Damper shot

Post by Stu160 » Tue Apr 12, 2011 12:51 am

martins wrote:Just bought nearly new Exige Springs and Dampers off Ebay :D

Do not really want to spend lots on upgrades right now as if future goes according to plan the car will be sold later this summer :P

Anyone want to but a pair of Elise 111r front springs and one rear for £150.... 8)

Martin
Hi marin

Did you pay £290 for them? . Auction ending at 11pm?
If so, them it was me that you were bidding against, did think to ask you last night, but the bid you had put on to start with was a couple of days ago so didnt think it was you. Never mind, i have found a set today anyway.

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robin
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Re: Rear Damper shot

Post by robin » Tue Apr 12, 2011 7:57 am

martins wrote:Have removed the offending damper/spring and decided to clean the Hurricane filter while in the nearside arch. Anyone know how to clean properly. Fitted last year so this is the first clean. It really is manky.

Martin
Best route to a clean air filter is to replace with standard air box and sell hurricane :-)

Is it a metal filter in there? If so K&N make some fluids for cleaning it IIRC.

Cheers,
Robin
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Re: Rear Damper shot

Post by tut » Tue Apr 12, 2011 9:08 am

Take it off the car, pull the filter out of the metal case, fill the sink up with plenty of fairy liquid, soak it, then use a pan cleaning brush to get all the gunge from between the folds, do this until it is completely clean, rinse, then thoroughly dry.

Spray once all the way around the filter turning it through 360degs then reassemble. From eBay or dearer from Halfords.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/K-N-Air-filter-Cl ... _500wt_717

tut

ps I do it every three months with our roads. Discovered the hard way. Lost 60hp on N1 in 2005 during the Scottish Sprint Championships.
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