Bleeding alu shocks - help!!!!!

[yellowshark454]

Guys I need your help. Having just spent a small fortune kitting out my 2 008s with the new shocks plus a spare set, I am stuck. I have used 350 cst and the foam pads. On the first two I used 2* 1.3 holes and bled them both in 10 minutes. On the second two I used 3 * 1.2 holes and after 2 hours I am defeated; I cannot even get one of them to the point where, with the top closed, I can push the piston all the way into the body.

On the first two shocks as I pushed the piston in, oil came out of the hole and when I tightened the top, some more oil came out. With the second two when I push the piston in no oil comes out and when I tighten the top, occasionally a pin head of oil will come out.

I have tried opening the top 1 turn 2 turns and 3 turns. I have tried doing it with the shocks upside down, I have taken both shocks apart and rebuilt them. I have pushed the piston as slow as a snail; I have tried ramming it in at warp speed. Someone posted a technique of tapping the pistons upward, tried that. I have tried holding the pistons in as I tighten the top.
After I push them in they are rebounding to 75% (even after 2 hours) and when I tighten the top they rebound the other 25%

What an earth is going on????

[Mark Payne]

Arh! Been there done that. Its even worst without the foams.

I think the bladder is compressing and the seal is not being broken so no oil escapes even though you have loosened the cap.

I got around it by taking the alloy top collar off to reveal the bladder. If you deform the bladder slightly at one side and push the piston in slightly some oil will escape. Now screw the cap back on and test the rebound.

cheers mark




Guys I need your help. Having just spent a small fortune kitting out my 2 008s with the new shocks plus a spare set, I am stuck. I have used 350 cst and the foam pads. On the first two I used 2* 1.3 holes and bled them both in 10 minutes. On the second two I used 3 * 1.2 holes and after 2 hours I am defeated; I cannot even get one of them to the point where, with the top closed, I can push the piston all the way into the body.

On the first two shocks as I pushed the piston in, oil came out of the hole and when I tightened the top, some more oil came out. With the second two when I push the piston in no oil comes out and when I tighten the top, occasionally a pin head of oil will come out.

I have tried opening the top 1 turn 2 turns and 3 turns. I have tried doing it with the shocks upside down, I have taken both shocks apart and rebuilt them. I have pushed the piston as slow as a snail; I have tried ramming it in at warp speed. Someone posted a technique of tapping the pistons upward, tried that. I have tried holding the pistons in as I tighten the top.
After I push them in they are rebounding to 75% (even after 2 hours) and when I tighten the top they rebound the other 25%

What an earth is going on????

[yellowshark454]

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D
Spot on Mark. I kind of beat you to it, just signed on to post the result. Returning the bench I did get one bled although still dubious as to why so long. But the other refused. Then I spotted some oil or air coming out between the cap and the upper ball joint - if that is what it is called. Process of elimation showed a defective bladder which fortunately is a common part unlike some of the others. Jeez I have spent a whole night just bleeding 4 shocks. Thanks for responding Mark, nice workaround you have there:)