12 replies to this topic

[FTodaro]

Was working on my car today and noticed that the right front shock was leaking oil badly enough that it was dripping on the floor. It’s obviously shot, but this shock was new in 2015 so they had one season on them, surprised it would fail like that so soon.

 

Last race was Mid Ohio no real impacts, crashes (in this car)  or heavy curbing then or at any time this season.

 

Anyone else have any recent failures where the shock just pukes oil?

[Todd Lamb]

I feel like you ran MIS with us last year....remember that turn onto the banking?

[FTodaro]

I feel like you ran MIS with us last year....remember that turn onto the banking?

I do but i did not hit anything with that corner. Just Flabbergasted it gave up as badly as it is. its really coming out of there.

 

Edit

 

how is that.

[LarryKing]

 

Just supersized it gave up as badly as it is.

 

Not only is it supersizing, one might also say "shocking"

[Todd Lamb]

You didn't hit anything with that corner, other than the really jarring transition of the RF onto the banking every lap that was harsh enough to cause the entire car to jounce.

[Tom Sager]

Frank, you have a bad shock.  Put on another one and quitcherbitchin .  

[speedengineer]

What is the typical life expectancy that most drivers see out of these SM dampers?  Are people replacing them annually for piece-of-mind?  I'm used to running multiple seasons and never having an issue. 

 

Curious - do guys who run for example, Road Atlanta, tend to burn through dampers often?  I recall that turn 3 apex curb and turn 5 exit curb being particularly brutal.  And the gators on some of the curbing like 10a/b.

[FTodaro]

Frank, you have a bad shock.  Put on another one and quitcherbitchin .  

[Brandon]

Ditto Speed's question - how long is too long for a set of shocks?  And would you go with yours rebuilt or a fresh set from FCM?

[FTodaro]

Ditto Speed's question - how long is too long for a set of shocks?  And would you go with yours rebuilt or a fresh set from FCM?

The cost of a rebuild is about half of new then you have to add shipping. So if your looking for legal shocks IMO i would just get new ones. save the used for spares. by the time you dick around with shipping and so on, $112.00 free shipping from Mazda right now.

 

In my first car I waited 4 years to change out, but it may depend on where you race. Mid O no curbs bouncing to worry about. If my home tracks were Rd Atlanta Rd American where you beat the piss out of them I would say new annually or by year 2.

 

Drago told me i don't drive the car hard enough so i only need to replace when the leak.

[DrDomm]

The cost of a rebuild is about half of new then you have to add shipping. So if your looking for legal shocks IMO i would just get new ones. save the used for spares. by the time you dick around with shipping and so on, $112.00 free shipping from Mazda right now.

 

In my first car I waited 4 years to change out, but it may depend on where you race. Mid O no curbs bouncing to worry about. If my home tracks were Rd Atlanta Rd American where you beat the piss out of them I would say new annually or by year 2.

 

Drago told me i don't drive the car hard enough so i only need to replace when the leak.

 

What about the bumpstops?  How often are you replacing the Fat Cat kit?

[FTodaro]

Domm, I have not changed out the fat cat kit on this car since installed on the original car 6 or 7 years ago. they are not damaged and maybe a bit compressed.

 

I may have to replace the spring perches as they have taken a beating over the years.

[DrDomm]

Domm, I have not changed out the fat cat kit on this car since installed on the original car 6 or 7 years ago. they are not damaged and maybe a bit compressed.

 

I may have to replace the spring perches as they have taken a beating over the years.

 

Cool...I'm swapping all this stuff over and every time I see something I ask myself if I should replace it.