Why does one job always lead to another

[bob hughes]

Today thought i would change the rear spheres,the ride was getting a bit hard and the weather was perfect for working on the old girl. Changed them in no time at all, checked for leaks everything was ok, took her for a short spin, comfy ride again. Parked car on drive got out only to find hydaulic fluid everywhere,one of the spheres was leaking,so did it again,checked again no leaks,sent it up and down a few times still ok.Took it forty yards up the road p*****g out again.A new rubber seal was fitted so took that off and put the old one back on,same again.So got my torch and checked around the seal,fine no sighn of a leak,checked pipe connection no leak,so thought this must be more serious. I decided to take off the rear strut, and yes you guessed it the pipe union was ceased,cut the pipe dissmantled the strut, and cant find any thing wrong. So i am now going to put another strut in and replace the pipe as soon as i can get hold of them.The air was blue and the car was up for sale,but i have calmed down now. If anybody has any ideas what went wrong i would like to know.
Thanks Bob.

[Channel Hopper]

A good pointer would be to know where the leak appeared to be coming from.

Was the spot under the rear or the front of the car, left right or central ?
And did it leak only when you had stopped ?

[robin hughes]

words of encouragement would go down well here. my mum hates this car and wants dad to sell it for a ford mundaeo!. Dad was in a right temper with it this afternoon but after having a troubled one of my own it doesnt seem to bother me anymore. but it doesnt help when youve got lines of spilt lhm all the way up and down a nearly new estate Just make sure you make dad realise what a good car hes got! (you cant replace a decent bx 16v as there arnt many good ones left)

[AlanS]

Are you fitting the rubber seal to the sphere or the strut where it screws in?
I've seen a few where it was fitted to the sphere first causing them to roll as they go in and this can tend to cause them to leak once the car has weight on it.
Carefully remove the sphere, sit the seal/"O" ring into the area at the neck of the thread and then refit the sphere carefully and methinks that may just be the source of your problems.

Alan S

[bob hughes]

The leak is on the righthand side rear looking at it from the back of the car. It does not leak at all when the car is stood still. Tried putting suspension under pressure, pressing brake pedal while putting it in high, then low several times. Still no leak. Soon as you move the car on to the road fluid pours out. When I renew the spheres (and I have done this countless times) I always lubricate the new seal with LHM and place it in the strut, then fit the sphere,screw it in by hand, then nip it up with a rubber strap. Put the suspension on high then tighten up a little more with my sphere tool. I am going out now to have another look at the removed strut to see if I missed anything. Must say - I am baffled by this!
Thanks for your help.

Bob
PS. When I put the car back on the drive, I was under it quicker than a speeding bullet. With the aid of my torch, checked around the sphere and pipe connection,no sighn of a leak, drip, or anything.

[thanuttiscotsman]

hi bob,
i think i might have the answer, i have done this a few times but only buggered it up once. (the first time) sometimes getting the spheres off is a bit of a bugger and all that heavy pulling and whacking people tend to do to loosten them sometimes can cause pipes to twist and its not always the strut pipe. these are often tangled up with other pipes and can bother them. anyhow sometimes when taking spheres off pipes get twisted and split or crack causing the leak but when you put new sphere on you can kinda twist it back half sealing the lhm leak. on tickover there is less pressure but when you put the foot down revs increase and tha back end drops down a bit, that additional pressure causes the fluid to spray out. because it sprays it makes a big mess and often looks worse than it is. so its probally a split or cracked pipe. this happened to me, was a brake pipe got split. parked up nothing would happen, driving nothing would happen. but wheel off push brake then go and look and i could see the fluid wqas coming from there now. so half in car with wheel off i pushed the brake and a huge mist of lhk flew down the street. so may need someone to help you track the culprit.

anyhow thats what happeded to me before so could be your troubles aswell.

ggod luck, cheers rossco

[bob hughes]

Hi Rossco.
You may be right, I dont know, anyway I am going the safe route. Bought a secondhand strut today,fitted it,and on monday I will go and get a new pipe,and fingers crossed that should be that.
Thanks for your advice.
Bob.

[ollie]

see my comments in your wanted post - used struts are often poor they go porous and then pop!! estaes seem more prone for some reason, not that thats relavant

Ollie

[bob hughes]

Just an update.
Job is finished, car back on the road,fitted secondhand strut (sorry ollie) and new feed pipe, and everything is working fine,no leaks .Stripped the old parts down,cleaned them, and still no sign of what went wrong.So this one will stay as one of lifes mysterys. Must admit I did not realise how bad the old spheres were till I fitted the new ones, comfortable ride now, but not as good on the corners.
Bob.

[thanuttiscotsman]

thats great to hear. nothing worse than when they do that s***. i found the same, as you drive all the time you dont feel the gradual wearing sphere's till you get new ones on. good job.

rossco