did we get any clarity on this subject?
Trophy Damper Rebuilds
- Thread starter Nik
- Start date
right - everyone calm down
dampers slowly degrade with time and use from day one, as does every other part of the car
wipers wear out, tyres wear out, discs and pads wear out
oil wears out - and you replace that on a regular basis without a second thought
I really wonder whether any of you have ever had old cars, or kept a car for a long time - yes dampers need replacing as do suspension bushes
the clio front dampers are specialist items, you don't throw them away and put new ones on, you service them - new oil/gas and seals. This is something motorsport teams would do on a regular basis - not because they would fail otherwise, but because their performance degrades slowly with time, maybe losing vital tenths of a second
now vital tenths aren't important on the run to the shops/school/work, they aren't important on trackdays, or trips to the ring. Unless the damper is leaking or not damping I wouldn't bother servicing them at the magic 30,000kms unless the car is feeling tired - dampers are best felt in the transition phase of cornering, when the car first starts to load up. My 13,000 mile clio feels like new still. I'd be very suprised if I will feel like sending the dampers off to Sachs in 6000 miles time, even though I have all the facilities at hand to do so. I imagine Mr Oliviers comment relates to optimum performance.
Bilstein have got some graphs on their site about how performance of dampers drops off with time, ending up with 1/2 the damping performance at 40,000 miles or such - most of us accept that as a car gets older it starts to feel tired, less pointy, less tight. If you want that new car feeling, replace your dampers and suspension bushes at regular intervals.
The problem with internet forums is that they prey on that bit of paranoia that we all have about our treasured possesions - and amplify them
everyone calm down
www.racecardoctor.com
dampers slowly degrade with time and use from day one, as does every other part of the car
wipers wear out, tyres wear out, discs and pads wear out
oil wears out - and you replace that on a regular basis without a second thought
I really wonder whether any of you have ever had old cars, or kept a car for a long time - yes dampers need replacing as do suspension bushes
the clio front dampers are specialist items, you don't throw them away and put new ones on, you service them - new oil/gas and seals. This is something motorsport teams would do on a regular basis - not because they would fail otherwise, but because their performance degrades slowly with time, maybe losing vital tenths of a second
now vital tenths aren't important on the run to the shops/school/work, they aren't important on trackdays, or trips to the ring. Unless the damper is leaking or not damping I wouldn't bother servicing them at the magic 30,000kms unless the car is feeling tired - dampers are best felt in the transition phase of cornering, when the car first starts to load up. My 13,000 mile clio feels like new still. I'd be very suprised if I will feel like sending the dampers off to Sachs in 6000 miles time, even though I have all the facilities at hand to do so. I imagine Mr Oliviers comment relates to optimum performance.
Bilstein have got some graphs on their site about how performance of dampers drops off with time, ending up with 1/2 the damping performance at 40,000 miles or such - most of us accept that as a car gets older it starts to feel tired, less pointy, less tight. If you want that new car feeling, replace your dampers and suspension bushes at regular intervals.
The problem with internet forums is that they prey on that bit of paranoia that we all have about our treasured possesions - and amplify them
everyone calm down
www.racecardoctor.com
A mighty condescending post, but your point makes sense.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Donkey pre-empted me; so far we do not even know to what extent the Sachs dampers will degrade; without being condescending I really did feel that everyone was getting wound up over a problem which as yet to arise. I appreciate that forewarned is forearmed, but to use another cliche there are not reds under every bed.
Donkey probably has access to a damper testing machine - perhaps the clever thing would be to calibrate some relatively new dampers, so that if anyone is worried there will be a benchmark for comparison.
Donkey probably has access to a damper testing machine - perhaps the clever thing would be to calibrate some relatively new dampers, so that if anyone is worried there will be a benchmark for comparison.
Thanks for the reassuring post David, I didn't read it as condescending at all, but then I know that you're an expert in the field whereas some might not.
I'm a bit strapped for cash at the mo, but will be bringing the Trophy in for an alignment check in the next couple of months. How much do you think a damper service would cost? And how does the service frequency compare for the rear dampers, not being remote resevoir etc?
I'm a bit strapped for cash at the mo, but will be bringing the Trophy in for an alignment check in the next couple of months. How much do you think a damper service would cost? And how does the service frequency compare for the rear dampers, not being remote resevoir etc?
donkey said:was in no way meant to be condescending - sorry if it came across that way
people came over a bit uptight in their posts!
No worries, my mistake. Thanks for the advice.
since when has Tony Adams owned a Trophy?
Cue said:
:lol:
reply to Steve
damper servicing varies between £50-£200 per damper depending on manufacturer (plus removal and couriering costs)
I'll see if I can get an answer from Sachs
having said that I imagine most owners will be driving something else when they need their dampers servicing
the rears are basic monotubes - and will probably more cost effective just to replace rather than service
damper servicing varies between £50-£200 per damper depending on manufacturer (plus removal and couriering costs)
I'll see if I can get an answer from Sachs
having said that I imagine most owners will be driving something else when they need their dampers servicing
the rears are basic monotubes - and will probably more cost effective just to replace rather than service