Rebuilding Factory Shock Absorber AW11, others maybe similar.

[wiso]

I have 2 pairs of front shocks for my AW11 both are quite soft and 1 set is leaking. With option for replacing these severely limited I pulled one apart I was going to measure up and see if I could find a insert to fit the tube, but in pulling it apart there does not look like much to them.

So I dunno if its possible or if anyone has done it, but can these be rebuilt by replacing seals and refilling with oil?

this is all the components of the shock internally.


the oil it has is very thin, it looks like it has a reddish appearance. Some sites say you can rebuild bike shocks with ATF fluid or hydralic jack oil.

Does anyone know anything about this topic?

While these are sold as a "sealed strut" they do have a nut on top so they can be pulled appart, thats why I am thinking maybe they are, otherwise whats the point in having it dismantlable?

I know its probably something I should not do, if I was to take this to a good suspension place would they be able to work with these?

[wiso]

Sorry about the miss spelled title.

Before anyone ask by severly limited options, toyota don't even do replacements any more, Pedders used to, Gabriel used to. the only brand locally available is Koni Yellow

[gixer]

WOW!! haven't seen this done for years, what you are planning on doing(replenishing oil/seals etc) I used to do when I first started as a mechanic, we used to work on lots of old Mazdas(not old back then!) and we would take the struts apart, clean them, inspect, clean all the valves, replenish the shock fluid, new seal on the strut tube and put them back together. It's a very long time ago, so I can't remember what we used for shock oil, the boss would get it in in 5ltr containers. Eventually we stopped doing this as strut inserts became cheaper, it was easier and quicker to just replace the insert.

Have you had a look at motorbike fork oil, it comes in lots of different grades and is readily available, maybe get some in a higher viscosity and give it ago, what have you got to lose and lots to gain.

[wiso]

So it did used to be done. cheers.

Your right I have not much to loose as these are a spare pair of struts. My only query is I don't know how much oil there should be in the shock. do you remember by chance? is there a guide like half the shock, fill the shock

[stocker]

I know Koni are a little on the pricey side though generally good quality, might be worth a try.

[MWP]

Surely KYB do an Excel-G for AW11's.
Excel-G's are pretty much equal to the original factory strut.

[wiso]

I have had plenty of adub over the years, all these options have been looked into. But to match my own hunting and what people say on MR2 forums it is true the only options are Pedders, Gabriel, Koni and Tokico. Monroe and KYB DO NOT DO THEM. Pedders and Gabriel still do rear. 5years ago I tried my hardest to get Gabriel fronts, but being put in contact with their factory they say they don't make them anymore and won't be again unless for special bulk order. At the time I bought pedders. Now ringing heaps of pedders shops and going in it seems pedders have discontinued their fronts also.

Yes Koni's are good but as you say pricey, and when you can't afford them, you can't afford them, if I could I would.

[MR22ZZ]

wow, I replaced my fronts with Gabriels about 3 years ago (bought them from Discount Auto Spares in Wollongong)... hard to believe they don't stock them any more. KYB stopped making them many years ago.

The rears are the same part number as the SW20 ones hence why they are still made.

EDIT: the gabriel website http://gabriel.com/ gave these numbers...

G44802 Ultra Cartridge Front
G44943 Ultra Cartridge Rear

[wiso]

were your front a cartridge? After pulling the shock apart you could definitely replace it with a cartridge, looking at the descriptions I would say so.

When I replaced my blue SC 5 years ago they didn't list an insert only listed a full sealed strut.

might go with that option. as looking at the strut I had a play re sealing and filling with an ATF fliud it worked ok its getting the right amount of fluid is difficult too much its too tight, too little it falls down. I wouldn't be confident to drive on it. I could try a different fluid but It's still dicey.

[MR22ZZ]

yep, it was a cartridge insert that I replaced it with.

The previous ones I replaced were Pedders inserts...

[feral4mr2]

i used to run the gabriels too. they were inserts. and far better than pedders crap. i think the feral still has them on all 4 corners.

i've never seen a complete strut/shock unit on a aw yet, everyone i've pulled apart was a insert. is yours a early model wiso?

[wiso]

nah mine is a series 2. My old one had an aftermarket full sealed strut. and that was an S2.

As I said I was looking all around with my old Blue one when those shocks went and had zip luck as no one listed an insert that I could find. the shocks that were listed for them were about $350 each front side, certainly not insert prices. Now everyone is saying inserts have been listed for years so i am a little confused.

[trdee]

twosrus have GR-2 and koni shocks at reasonable prices??

[SilverRA23]

You can certainly replace the seals and replace the oil.

Go to a motorcycle spares shop and buy some shock oil from them for it.

[wiso]

would motorcycle shock oil be the same, as I have read the oil viscosity determines the dampening effect. a bike doesn't have as much weight as a car so I would have through this oil would have had more viscosity than car shock oil would be