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View Full Version : Coilover shocks retracting?


Iain
14-02-09, 01:35 PM
I've just took my Gaz front coilovers off for inspection. If I hold them both vertically with no spring/topmount on, one of the pistons starts to retract quickly (under its own weight) to about 2cm off the bumpstop, whereas the other stays up (although it has retracted to about 3.5cm off the bumpstop over about 15 minutes).

Does this non-uniform behaviour sound normal? I'd expect two dampers the same age with minimal usage to behave exactly the same...
Benn
14-02-09, 01:44 PM
Might be front uneven weight on them...
Jack
14-02-09, 01:44 PM
Any signs of leakage? (On the strut itself and on the car)
Iain
14-02-09, 01:48 PM
I've checked around the rubber part where the piston comes out and there's no leak signs around there - that'd be the only place it could leak from?

Benn, you'd think the heavier side would end up looser by that logic? The "floppy" side is on the passenger side.
Stuart
14-02-09, 03:20 PM
did you buy them recently?
Iain
14-02-09, 03:22 PM
Yep, bought them via the discount here around November last year.
16v Nova Kev
14-02-09, 03:28 PM
passenger side takes more abuse i would say
Stuart
14-02-09, 04:47 PM
might be worth giving warren a shout to talk it through...
Iain
14-02-09, 04:49 PM
Didn't answer the phone today (must not work Saturdays?) but will give them a call on Monday and ask for Warren.
16xe_chris
14-02-09, 05:17 PM
They are gas iirc and would not show any signs of leakage if the seals are gone:thumb:
craig green
15-02-09, 03:41 PM
I reckon its fine. They dont return to 'open' length anyway.
If anything was amiss, you'd experience it bottoming out or something.

Do both units feel like they have similar resistance (damping) by manually compressing them?
Iain
15-02-09, 04:49 PM
They feel similar ish when pushing them in and out. Wouldn't think anything of it if they both did it the same.
Iain
16-02-09, 12:38 PM
Tech guy at Gaz said it's probably nothing to worry about, and a "dry seal" could mean one doesn't retract as quickly. They should both go down due to the way the seal is designed, and if it feels okay by hand it should be okay.
Benn
16-02-09, 08:54 PM
Get it back together then.
Adam
16-02-09, 09:37 PM
Told 'ya you're worrying about nothing!! lol
General Baxter
16-02-09, 09:38 PM
did you 'prime' one and not the other before you fitted when new ? lol