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MG MGA - shock absorbers

Hi,
I have one dismantled 1600 and eight shock absorbers.
When I open the plug on the shocks I see instead of oil a black substance wich I suppose are the rests of the old oil.Before buying new shocks or have them rebuild I want to try them with new oil.
Is there a way to clean the inside of the shocks without damaging anything.I am afraid when using degreaser or brakecleaner that I damage the seals or other parts.
Thanks for the answer,

Herman
H. Jorens

There is usually a rubber sealing ring on one of the pistons in the shock as well as the rubber inpregnated packing on the shaft seals so I wouldn't use anything to clean out the shock, just drain it and refill with nothing heavier than a 20 weight hydraulic oil. Motorcycle shock oils work fine. Pump the lever slowly to make sure all the air is pumped out of the shock and top off and you're done. If the rubber seals have perished then you'll need to either replace the shocks or have them rebuilt. That will be pretty easy to tell because you'll have very little damping action on one direction and much more in the other. The damping action is not even in both directions normally, but you should feel resistance to movement in both directions, with a seal missing there will be almost no resistance.
Bill Young

Herman,

If the old oil is too dirty after dispose it use new oil to remove additional particles and then refill again with new oil.
How come you got eight shocks from one car?
R Garcia

Thanks for the answer.
I will flush them with oil and see if they work OK.Otherwise they have be rebuild.
Eight shocks from one car?
Well I bought a dismantled(abandoned restoration) 1600, it had a good body but a rotten chassis.The body was sitting on a perfect and rolling 1500 chassis.All the mechanical parts from the 1600 was put in boxes.So I have eight shocks,two front suspensions,two rear axles,...

Regards,
Herman
H. Jorens

Herman,
Thanks from the explanation, you have a big chance to get the four good shocks needed, recently I did the same operation and I got 3 good ones and 1 for reconditioning, considering that those are 50 years old that is a very good ratio of performance.
Regards,
R Garcia

Herman, I agree with the others that you've got a good chance of finding some good ones even if they are 40 years old. I ordered a set of reconditioned rear shocks from one of the places that "rebuild" shocks and the ones they sent me were worse than my originals that I was going to send as replacements. I put the reconditioned ones on the car and it was very bouncy. I sent them back and sent them my original shocks to rebuild with the uprated valves. I'm please to say that they work great.

Andy

60 Coupe
Andy Preston

This thread was discussed between 17/11/2009 and 19/11/2009

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