opening dampers

Post by **silvia** » 17 Nov 2007 07:23 pm

as above is it possible to open the standard dampers on a 340?
i want to open them to drain the oil and replace but im broke so i cant afford new ones, just service them

thanks
matt

Post by **petefarrell360** » 17 Nov 2007 07:43 pm

For the fronts as long as they are the original oil filled ones, not a replacement insert, yes. And to be honest, you're not really going to know until you've stripped it all down and got it apart! One of mine was original and one was an insert on my GLT. The only tell tale sign was a different top nut on the strut on the new one. It'd be advisable to find a reasonably priced set as a backup or at least have a source for a set incase you get it all stripped down and find something like I did, or that they are replacement inserts.

Rears I'm pretty sure the anwer is no, or at least not easily.

Pete

Post by **Ronnie** » 18 Nov 2007 10:55 am

You can have my rears once I've got round to swapping them for my Konis. They're less than a year old. Life is kind of busy for me at the moment so I'm not sure when that wil be, but anything to make me pull my finger out.

Post by **silvia** » 18 Nov 2007 12:28 pm

um im broke at the moment and i havent had my volvo long so i dont have eny volvo stuff to swap you. and i dont think it will be eny use to you but i have loads of 200sx parts but if i think of enything i will PM you or failing that i will have some money in a week or two and i will sort you out that way

Post by **kaos** » 18 Nov 2007 02:47 pm

GFS do front dampers ate £12 i think it was.

Post by **Ronnie** » 18 Nov 2007 03:11 pm

You can have them - they're not the greatest shocks in the world, but they work OK. You'll have to sort out postage or collection though - I'm in Bristol. But please note, they're still on my car at the moment!

Post by **silvia** » 18 Nov 2007 03:27 pm

thanks mate i dont mind waiting till you take them off

Post by **clitti** » 22 Nov 2007 10:34 pm

If your broke and want a cheap shock mod drain the original fluid out,(which has less viscosity than water)and replace with new engine oil 15/40 or gearbox oil EP90.Because the replacement oil is thicker it travels through the valve in the bottom of the shock slower and increases the bump and rebound thus making the shock harder.I have used this mod on most of my 300s i've owned and it works a treat especially if you take half a coil or a whole coil off of the spring as well.

Post by **silvia** » 22 Nov 2007 10:41 pm

that was the plan all along mate i just wanted to no if the dampers would open as some modern ones are sealed and i didnt want to go to all the trouble of taking them off and finding out thay wouldnt open.

Post by **clitti** » 23 Nov 2007 08:21 pm

Every strut i have modified has a large nut on the top of the casing which the shock protrudes through.all you need to open it is a large adjustable spanner to open it with.

Post by **classicswede** » 24 Nov 2007 11:48 am

You could find the dampers have been changed and there are now ones already fitted. The only way to find out is to open BOTH of them up.