Shock Absorbers

[new2jags]

I have to renew the bush on the bottom of the nearside shock absorber on my 53 plated XK8 coupe, which appears to be the cause of the 'knock' experienced by so many owners. Is it possible to do the job without removing the shock absorber itself? Are there any past articles in JEC magazines that would assist me? Thanks for any advice.

[Nik]

I've heard it is possible with a press tool but I feel it would be much much easier to remove the damper and press the old one out and the new one in
The "bush" is actually more of a rose joint/bearing , a little bird told me that they are identical to an "SType" part , different part number ,and much cheaper ,

Hope this helps ,

Nik

[PaulJ]

I did one of my rear ones and it was a pig. Used 2 sockets and threaded rod to push it out as shown on other forums. Wouldn't budge ended up sawing it through carefully so,as not to damage the shock. New one went in ok put it in freezer to shrink it and heated the shock to expand it but I think it is easy to damage the rubber at each end. Also this was all done laying on back probably easier if have a vehicle lift .

So yes it can be done would I do it again No. I would take shock out and take it to a garage to press it out and fit new.

[J44EAG]

I`ve seen professionals struggle changing bushes on dampers even with a decent bench press and numerous sockets, tubes and other assorted mandrels.

Like all fiddly processes, once mastered and with an appropriate selection of tooling, such jobs become much easier. Our problem is we have to access the correct tools and a bench press and develop a suitable technique without wrecking the bush register on the bottom of the damper or ruining the new bush in the process.

I`ve seen fitters remove grease gaiters from bushes to avoid damage during fitting.

I would avoid attempting to change damper bushes with the damper still on the car. It will be much easier to just dismantle a top mount and slip the unit off the car and onto a bench press. So much more civilised than crawling around on a cold, damp concrete floor and struggling to force bushes in or out with a length of old stud, washers and nuts! I`m too old for that kind of caper!!

Personally, I`d drop the dampers off the car and nip them down to a suitably equipped small local garage. I`d then go and have a coffee whilst letting someone else enjoy the fun of forcing the bushes in and out. Worth every penny of £30 just to avoid damaging a bush myself by using inadequate equipment.

Mike K

[new2jags]

Many thanks to those who have replied. I have sourced a new bush from http://www.jaguarspares-northeast.co.uk at £15(!) and, on the advice of you all, talked my local garage into doing the job for me. I have sent for a 'workshop manual' disc off ebay, which will, hopefully, advise me of any pitfalls I should make my garageman aware of. Mike K - is the pic you included in your reply, one of a series I can access? Thanks again to everyone...Leighton.

[J44EAG]

The pic was one I took whilst at a garage gathering copy for our magazine.

In this instance an S-type was having new bushes fitted to the rear dampers and I was just snapping away as the job was being carried out. As I watched the job progress, the dampers were off the car and then individually transferred to a bench press.

Once a damper was on the press, the garage used a mandrel to push out the centre of the old bush and make space for a socket to remove the bush outer case. An appropriate sized socket was then used to drive out the outer bush case from the damper register lug. I saw a force of ten tons applied to remove those bushes.

That having been done, a new bush had its leading edge prepared by grinding off a 90 degree entry lead to stop any possibility of the bush picking up on the damper lug as it was forced into position. Again the force indicated on the press was around ten tons. Prior to fitment, the gaiters and retention springs were temporarily removed to provide more working space and eradicate any chance of the gaiters being damaged during bush fitment. Several additional small pushes were needed with the bench press to ensure that the bush was sitting plumb in the middle of the damper register lug.

Pre freezing the bushes does help fitment due to contraction. However, without a press and various sockets, tubes and the odd purpose made mandrel, trying to do this job using a a garage vice, lumps of metal and bits of sawn off scaffold pipe or the like, is not as easy as one would think. You would also need about four extra hands to keep things going well! The right tool for the job ensures a good chance of right first time. Cobble up solutions can on the other hand often go horribly wrong!

Mike K

[dhdove]

Plenty of oxy-acetalyne and a hacksaw blade should see it off

TonyS

[Nik]

Plenty of oxy-acetalyne and a hacksaw blade should see it off

TonyS

Yes Tony but ...................... he wants to keep the damper

All the best ,

Nik

PS Perhaps a thermal lance would work , off in milliseconds

[new2jags]

Many thanks to all who gave their views/knowledge on this topic. MIKE K - I note you suggest removing the gaiters and retention springs prior to fitting the bush to the shocker. It does seem the logical thing to do, but raises concerns about the refitting of the springs. After the 'prising off' are they going to lose any of their tension and would I get away with 'dismantling' just the one end of the bush?
Leighton.

[J44EAG]

Gaiters at both ends were removed to avoid damage during fitting.

There was absolutely no loss of tension caused during gaiter spring removal. They just slipped back on again in the same way they were first fitted. No problem at all.

Mike K

[new2jags]

Ok, thanks again to everyone. I'll let you know how we get on.
L.

[new2jags]

Finally persuaded my local garage to tackle the job. Although the garage is very well equipped, none of their spring compressors were suitable, which resulted in the the removal/replacement of the shocker being extremely 'time consuming' - can't print here how they described the job! As regards the removal and replacement of the bush, that was no problem at all. As you can see from the pic, it was well over due for renewal! If the offside bush needs attention, I've been ordered to hire the relevant tool from the club!

[mike020150]

Helpfully, the pic clearly shows that these bushes operate more like rose joints and are not the simple plain shock absorber bushes of older Jaguars. They contribute to the XK8's sophisticated ride/road holding and they usually give audible warning when it's time for replacement! Mike.

[new2jags]

Thanks for your interest Mike, and to all others who gave advice, opinions etc. Yes, there certainly was an 'audible warning' - just like a heavy bit of kit rattling round in the boot! Sorted now though. Thanks again.
Leighton.