F15a shock absorbers

[Jacques Reed]

Originally Posted by Dave Schindel

Thanks Rob and Tony.If they work,leave "em alone. Not something you want to try to rebuild unless you are desperate!

Hi Dave,

I agree with Rob and Tony wholeheartedly. If they move, just work them a bit, flush them out, and replace the hydraulic oil.

If they are frozen and you cannot find some that move then you may have to try to tear then down.

I recreated the pictures below of how I got mine apart after Frank Curcio removed the arms for me with his puller and heat. As I said in an earlier post referred to here, to do it again I would try to do it myself first. I didn't have an oxy set in 2004 when I had mine rebuilt however.

Before removing the arm mark the arm and the shaft to make sure you get it back on the correct spline. Some are factory marked with a chisel mark. A centre punch mark will also do the job.

I used a strap wrench to remove the cover. I made a tool to remove the inner ring from a piece of steel with three bolts 120 degreees apart. In actuality it came out quite easily but I was expecting the worst. Gentle persuasion with a brass drift on the notches may be all that is needed in hindsight. In any event a tool as heavy as the one I made is not necessary. Once that ring is out the rest should just pull apart easily if not frozen with rust.

Hope this may be of some help.

Cheers,