can i re-bush the rear dampers on my '94 XJ40 ?

[Brakebuster]

can i re-bush the rear dampers on my '94 XJ40 ?

this has the same suspension damper setup as the X300 , which is nothing like the earlier '40s ,


the car is a 3.2s , and has specific dampers to that model , the dampers are fine, just some bobbling from the bottom bushes , and the top foams isolators will probably need replacing to

so , is there a kit etc that i can re-bush the two rear dampers with ?

BB

[J44EAG]

Vince,

Nothing apparently listed for 40/300 on the Powerflex poly site, but always worth giving James in their Sales Dept a call.

http://www.upratedbushshop.com/section.php/108/1/xj40

Mike

[PeterDavisX300]

I still have Two brand-new bushes for rear dampers to fit my X300. I tried and tried to fit them whilst in situ' but to no avail, and I have full workshop facilities. I ended up putting new shocks on. When I got the old ones off, the bottom bush would still not come out, even with a load of heat. The outer rim of the bush was rusted solid to the inner rim of the lower shock housing. Still, you might be lucky.

[J44EAG]

I did a damper bush on a 308R on one occasion. I had to remove the damper from the car as it was well solid with corrosion. Only when I had the damper on the bench press, did it come out. It went with a hell of a bang and a shower of rust dust as the corrosion let go.

I`ve also done XK8 and S-type ring damper bushes. None of them are easy. I recall having to push with about five tons before I got the first bush "bang". Removal is in my opinion only feasible with the damper out of the car and on a press. I`ve always refitted having cleaned out the ring, de-burred, frozen the replacement bush in the freezer and gently pre-warmed the damper ring mount with a hot air gun. A little smear of Vasaline or waterproof grease helps stop any fitting foul-ups. It is a lot of faffing about reconditioning an old damper unit which is probably best described as a consumable part just like a battery or an oil filter. Nothing lasts for ever. It is hardly worth the time and effort.

My personal opinion is that if the bush has failed, then the damper will not be far behind it. If the damper has done 100k miles or perhaps a little less, then I`m inclined to cut my losses and bin it. Quite honestly, I`m favor replacing the complete damper and bush in axle pairs with a complete new units rather than try to get a bit more mileage out of potentially tired old dampers. It seems to point towards a false economy both in time spent on the job and the relatively low cost of a new pair of dampers. I hate having to re-visit components after only a short period of time.

Mike

[Brakebuster]

i would normally agree with my esteemed colleague ,

however

the original dampers for the 3.2s are NLA , and aftermarket ( though cheap ) are not the right spec........


and new dampers, new springs, new this and new that cost way more than the £28 i have spent.....


so two bushes have been ordered and the hydraulic press with be dusted off


BB

[PeterDavisX300]

I did a damper bush on a 308R on one occasion. I had to remove the damper from the car as it was well solid with corrosion. Only when I had the damper on the bench press, did it come out. It went with a hell of a bang and a shower of rust dust as the corrosion let go.

I`ve also done XK8 and S-type ring damper bushes. None of them are easy. I recall having to push with about five tons before I got the first bush "bang". Removal is in my opinion only feasible with the damper out of the car and on a press. I`ve always refitted having cleaned out the ring, de-burred, frozen the replacement bush in the freezer and gently pre-warmed the damper ring mount with a hot air gun. A little smear of Vasaline or waterproof grease helps stop any fitting foul-ups. It is a lot of faffing about reconditioning an old damper unit which is probably best described as a consumable part just like a battery or an oil filter. Nothing lasts for ever. It is hardly worth the time and effort.

My personal opinion is that if the bush has failed, then the damper will not be far behind it. If the damper has done 100k miles or perhaps a little less, then I`m inclined to cut my losses and bin it. Quite honestly, I`m favor replacing the complete damper and bush in axle pairs with a complete new units rather than try to get a bit more mileage out of potentially tired old dampers. It seems to point towards a false economy both in time spent on the job and the relatively low cost of a new pair of dampers. I hate having to re-visit components after only a short period of time.

Mike

Well-Said.