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 95 rear lever arm damper rebuild
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Doive
V4 Fan

United Kingdom
160 Posts

Posted - 31 Jan 2017 :  01:57:44 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Noticed this evening that one of our rear lever arms has started leaking fairly obviously. Could anyone recommend a source of replacement seals, or alternatively a reputable company who rebuilds these units?

1970 95 V4 van
1973 95 V4 estate

john-saab
Administrator

United Kingdom
2679 Posts

Posted - 31 Jan 2017 :  08:24:43 Show Profile Reply with Quote
I can't remember the company that many people recommend..I will dig that out but i can tell you who NOT to use.
A long story that will be echoed by many others (I can provide a link to a classic car page where may others have ripped off by them)..Stevson Motors of Birmingham..stay away from them. They lost our first set and when I insisted they replace them they just found an old set and painted them...no repairs...posted them with no packaging so the casting on one was cracked and the oil leaked out in transit. The original quote was £140 and the final bill £240 but it was never paid. They are rude, incompetent and dishonest.(this is MY personal point of view and is in no way related to saab-v4.co.uk)


'73 96 (Vernon),'74 95 (Veronica)plus 4 other 95's and 2 96's
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UK_Sub
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
2555 Posts

Posted - 31 Jan 2017 :  09:06:32 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Found the receipt from the guys that refurbished mine.

Back in 2007 it cost £210.92 (incl. VAT) to refurbish 4 rear 95 shock absorbers.

The company is called Recon & Return in Leicester.
Address: 39A Ave Rd Ext, Leicester LE2 3EP
Phone:0116 244 8103


Hope that helps
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john-saab
Administrator

United Kingdom
2679 Posts

Posted - 31 Jan 2017 :  17:35:56 Show Profile Reply with Quote
They re the ones UKSub..there is also a company somewhere in North London who people rate.

'73 96 (Vernon),'74 95 (Veronica)plus 4 other 95's and 2 96's
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Doive
V4 Fan

United Kingdom
160 Posts

Posted - 11 Feb 2017 :  21:21:18 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Thanks guys, much appreciated. Car was driving perfectly well, but the dampers have clearly been there for quite some time. Off the road since September, going through an exhaust replacement and brake rebuild for the MoT, so no doubt our tame tester would pick up on it. Are bushes etc available for the rear arms?

1970 95 V4 van
1973 95 V4 estate
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john-saab
Administrator

United Kingdom
2679 Posts

Posted - 12 Feb 2017 :  08:28:18 Show Profile Reply with Quote
No bushes unless you can find someone with NOS. If you get stuck I may have a usable 2nd hand arm.

'73 96 (Vernon),'74 95 (Veronica)plus 4 other 95's and 2 96's
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john wyatt
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
1031 Posts

Posted - 13 Feb 2017 :  10:40:02 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Apple hydraulics, must be place in UK but I never did find out who!

I should have a spare pair knocking about if you wanted to send them away to keep yiur car mobile

http://www.applehydraulics.com/british.htm
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Woody
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
2758 Posts

Posted - 13 Feb 2017 :  20:28:31 Show Profile Reply with Quote
No experience of 95 rear shocks. Always assumed (incorrectly) that the two-part bushes at the bottom of the link arms were the same as 96 ones. Cannot remember the diameter of the axle pin on the 95 axle and whether it is the same on the 96. Used standard 96 bushes on the 95 axle I had on last 96V4.
Interested to see the comparison between the two part nos.
Got NOS bushes for the 96 off ebay. (seller was only 4miles away )


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john-saab
Administrator

United Kingdom
2679 Posts

Posted - 13 Feb 2017 :  21:07:52 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Woody. The lever arm dampers are mounted to a plate and the plate is mounted to the body using "top hat" shaped bushes. I think these are the bushes required?


'73 96 (Vernon),'74 95 (Veronica)plus 4 other 95's and 2 96's
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Woody
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
2758 Posts

Posted - 13 Feb 2017 :  22:34:46 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Thanks John-Saab. Never seen these.
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greg124
V4 Fan

United Kingdom
173 Posts

Posted - 12 Jan 2019 :  18:37:02 Show Profile Reply with Quote
I've just removed the lever arm dampers from my 95, as part of the recommissioning. There is no evidence of leakage, and good resistance so I'm not planning a rebuild. However, I do have a couple of questions:
1. Is there a known source of the mounting plate bushes (35 in John's post above), or does anyone have any NOS bushes, or even a cross-reference to something from another vehicle which is known to fit?
2. While the dampers are off is it a good idea to change the oil in them? If so (and also for topping up), what oil do you use? as the Saab manual on Melle's website is a bit vague "use an oil suitable for hydraulic...".
On a different car I have previously used 3in1 for a servo valve when "motorcylce fork oil" was specified, as Shockol20 was no longer available
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