Mark,
We've taken some very old shocks apart, and yes, the fluid is blackish
(and REALLY smelly) and there is usually some evidence of metal "dust". If
indeed you want to _really_ clean them out, I guess I would remove the lid
as well. This will allow you access to the "guts" and you can wash out the
insides completely. (recommend a brake clean type product... doesn't affect
the piston seal (if any)) This also allows the filling/bleeding procedure
to go easier. You'll want some adhesive silicon sealant at hand to either
replace or restore the gasket.
If you want to remove the arm, I can tell ya....... but then I'd hafta
kill ya.
By the way _I_ wouldn't drain and refill my shocks....... and Frank C
probably doesn't build garages in his spare time, just a guess. ;-)
Have fun enjoy the smell..
Peter C
--------
At 01:27 PM 3/16/99 , Hanna, Mark wrote:
>Hi Peter ,
>My lever shocks do not leak and seem to have normal resistance in both
>directions .
>However they are original to the car (~40 years old) Would not the movement
>of the
>pistons in their respective boars cause wear and consequently contamination
>of the
>fluid after all of this time ? I figured that I had to change the fluid for
>this reason alone .
>Thank you for educating the list on the finer points of Armstrong lever
>shocks .
>Mark Hanna
>AN5L/13731
>
>
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