Front strut life

[dursleyman]

Driving my car the last few days I thought I noticed an unusual kickback in the steering on bumps but it might have been my imagination. Today I decided to analyse it properly and was sure something is going on. A good check revealed that the front left strut is leaking badly. The annoying thing is that I completely rebuilt them with new inserts only a couple of years ago and have covered less than a thousand easy miles since.

I bought the inserts from one of our better specialists so its very frustrating. The gaitor on the other side has gone as well but that is pretty much expected these days.

I have a pair of new Gaz top adjustable inserts "in stock" so now be the time to try them.




Russ

1980 TR7 Sprint DHC, 1981 TR7 Sprint DHC
Dursley
UK

http://tr7russ.blogspot.co.uk/

[img]http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b410/dursleyman/TR7%20web%20picture/IMG_0479-Optimized.jpg[img]

[busheytrader]

My front Spax lasted for over 10 years until the gaiters rotted away after the MOT. They didn't last to the next MOT. the exposed shafts were covered in crud and covered in fluid.

[silverseven]

same experience with some regular replacement shocks (might have been county) lasted two years and maybe 4000km. Junked them and replaced with KYB. So far so good in age (about 3+ years)...unfortunately the "not so little anymore" little ones have kept my kilometres down no almost non-existent.

Ron.

[Hasbeen]

I don't know what mine are on the 7, but they are the ones that were on the car when I bought it 14 years ago, & are still fine. When I finally have to replace them, I will be interested to know what they are.

The expensive adjustable Konis on the 8 lasted about 5 years, & 25,000 Kilometers.

I had to fit bump stops for roadworthy, as they were totally disintegrated. Our local Triumph bloke supplied GM Holden polly bump stops, & I presume the gaiters were from the same Holden. All have now done over 60,000 in 12 years & are still working well.

We used the same bump stops on the 8, but cut them in half, as the stock Holden bump stop was too long for the much lowered 8.

Hasbeen

[jeffremj]

I am still on Spax adjustables all round - 20 + years and counting.

[FI Spyder]

I put KYBs on the front 7 years, 17,000 miles ago, still going strong as are the gaiters that were replaced (old ones only partly there). Of course the Koni's on the back are still going strong but |I have no idea how old they are..

- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

[whitenviro]

The PO of my car put KYBs on 10 years before I bought it, but then barely drove it. The shocks and struts had less than 2,000 miles on them over those 10 years. I feel like they are too stiff and have been wondering about whether or not they went bad just sitting.

Someone out here has a new old stock pair of Boge struts for sale that I have been tempted to try. Anyone had those on their TR? I used to have them on my Vanagon and liked them, but that was a whole different type of vehicle.


[/img]
1980 Pageant Blue DHC with removable hardtop.

[dursleyman]

Update on the strut gaiters.
I just received a new set from Robsport and they are much heavier than the old ones and actually smell of rubber.
They seem to be the real thing so I have high hopes they will last longer than the "plastic" ones I had before.

Russ

1980 TR7 Sprint DHC, 1981 TR7 Sprint DHC
Dursley
UK

http://tr7russ.blogspot.co.uk/

[img]http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b410/dursleyman/TR7%20web%20picture/IMG_0479-Optimized.jpg[img]