Left Front Lever Shock is Leaking

A few weeks back I discovered by front dampers (lever shocks) were low on oil. Topped them up with motorcycle fork oil 20w. Now the left front shock is leaking. My first thought is that I am in for a replacement/rebuild. My research thus far points to the best deal being a rebuilt unit from http://www.nosimport.com for $75 plus core charge.

What are your thoughts? ideas? suggestions? things I should be thinking about or checking? Mine is a 1964 MGB Tourer.

Second question, my shocks fill from a port on the side (towards the wheel). Some photos of some shocks I see fill from the top. http://www.nosimport.com and Brti-tek hotos/drawings are like mine. Moss and others are top fill. Does it matter? What's the difference?

Finally, is this a pretty straighforward repair/installation for a relative novice like me? Bentley and Haynes manuals make it sound pretty simple, remove one pin and four bolts and swap it out.

Thanks in advance.

If you've not solved it by the time I get back from Europe, contact me - I have good used ones.

Send the shock to Peter Caldwell at World Wide Auto Parts of Madison http://www.nosimport.com and let him send you a rebuilt pump. If it ever leaks again, send it back and he will make it good for you (in fact, if you call him, he sends you another pump that you can swap out and return the defective one so you a minimum amount of driving time). You can't go wrong with Peter.
Cheers,

Easy to change, maybe.

The trick!! Likely you will destroy the pin that attachs to the suspension so buy the kit to replace it from Moss or others.

If the blessed pin does not come out with moderately severe force, then a saws all to cut it up is the other trick.

Larry

I agree with the above posts. The upper trunion pin is a bi@#h to get-out sometimes. It is advisable to have all the parts you could possibly need at hand before you start.

Some have used a Sawsall to remove the pin, I used a die-grinder - worked as well, and i had it readily available. If you use a standard hack-saw, you're in for a long working session.

mb

The picture that Moss and the BMC catalog have is of a very, very early shock whose body is similar to an MGA and a big Healey. The "turret" on your shock was used starting at car# 3xx or so. (I'd have to check.) I've been told that the change to the turret style was the second change made to a B.... the first being the addition of a tow hook!

The turret provides room for expansion of hot oil, a feature the Healeys and MGAs wish they could fit inside their body work.

There's no major difficulty in changing a shock, except as others have noted, rust may be an issue. Plan ahead, and spray the fasteners with PB Blaster, or some such before hand.


Hope I can help.

Peter C.

Peter is right. The change happened at car #619. August, 1962 per Clausager.

Well, I got rebuilt front lever shocks from Peter at Worldwide in Wisconsin like y'all suggested. Lightning fast delivery and everything looks good on them. The left shock swap is done with some effort, but no cutting. On the right one the nut came off easily enough, but the pin doesn't want to come out. I am soaking overnight with liquid wrench. The threads on the pin are boogered up. Not sure if i did that or if they were already like that, but the nut won't go back on. I have an extra pin I found in one of the two chests of parts that came with my car. Wish me luck!