Re: Upside down shocks

["Jim Neill" <papajam1@domain.elided>]

   C M Smith's response in AD V8 #35 to Anne O's comment in AD V8 #27 on
upside down shocks reads in part;

......my mechanic
suggested  to me that they [the shocks] had been installed upside down.
Naturally, the
shocks could care less. They are designed to work in two directions:
compression and rebound. Which way up they are doesn't affect either
function.

   Oh, yes it does! Dampers (the proper term; thank you England) work on the
principle of a piston moving a fluid thru tiny holes which slows down the
velocity of the piston. If any air is in the piston's cylinder, then no
damping action can take place. Air is introduced into the cylinder by storing
the dampers horizontally and upside down installation. This is why new off the
shelf shocks(I'll give in to the majority's term of the things)  must be bled
before installation. Never heard of bleeding the shocks? Most mechanics
haven't either. The term bleed as it applies to automotive stuff means to
remove something (usually air) from an unwanted location. While hydraulic
brake and clutch systems have bleed screws, shocks don't. To bleed a shock,
hold it rightside up and expand it all the way. Then turn it upside down and
push it together. You can hear and feel the air being purged from the fluid
reservoir. Repeat 2 or 3 more times and then install it. Makes a world of
difference.

Shocked at the thought of upside down shocks,

Jim
68 GTV - with 4 rightside up Koni red


papajam1@domain.elided

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