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MG MGB Technical - Front End Creaking

Lately my '67 GT has developed creaking and moaning noises in the left front suspension. I tried to narrow it down further this evening, but was not able to recreate the noises efficiently while holding a stethoscope to the various bushings and pivots. Best guess is that the noises are coming from the shock absorber. The dirt coating was stained with oil around the seals, but not wet with oil. Pulled the filler plug to see about adding oil, and was surprised to find grease within. Decided not to add oil since it might mix with the grease.

So what's up with this? I thought these shocks were supposed to have oil in them and mine's got grease? What to do about the creaking and moaning (other than turning up the radio)? Thanks. -G.
Glenn G

Glenn,

They are supposed to have oil in them. It's a good guess that someone put the grease in because the oil was leaking. I don't know if it is the creaking, but it isn't right.

Most everyone agrees that Peter Caldwell at World Wide Parts (I think I got the mame right) is the place for rebuilt shocks.

Charley
C R Huff

World Wide Auto Parts - http://www.nosimport.com/
David DuBois

I can't imagine the dampers have been working at all. The valves have tiny holes for the oil to flow through, can't really see grease flowing at all. Other ares to look at fot creaks are, 1. The bottom outer pivot. When this siezes the bolt rotates in the wishbones.........no lubrication here, and you'll find you can't get grease into the pivot nipple 2. Rubber bushes creak when dry. Spray a bit of silicon lubricant on them and see if the noise stops.
Allan Reeling

Can the ends of the springs make noises? When the spring compresses won't it also rotate slghtly. Mine sometimes makes creaking noises and I always wondered if that was why. I should spray them with lubricant and see if that helps.
Simon Jansen

I did two things while I was under the car last night: cleaned up the shock absorber and tightened a loose exhaust pipe clamp. This morning there was no moaning and very little creaking, so I think between the two I must have fixed it. I still don't understand why the shock has grease in it, but it does operate as expected, so I think there must be oil beneath the grease. Still, strange. -G.
Glenn G

You find grease bring used in the damnedest places. I've overhauled at least 500 pairs of motorcycle forks, and while most of them were quite dirty, none could compare to the left fork that I took off a Kawasaki 80cc bike. The right fork looked normal, but the left fork had been filled with grease. I can only assume that someone was trying to stiffen the suspension on a budget. It took me an hour just to clean all of the old grease out of the fork tube. RAY
rjm RAY

Yup, I ran STP in the front shocks of my Healey 100-6 to get some damping action and slow the leaks. At least it was warm weather.

Charley
C R Huff

Back when I was running an MGA in SCCA events, several guys loaded the shocks with 90 weight rear axle lubricant, but I never heard of greasing them inside. Probably a big chore to get the grease cleaned out and refill with oil and likely end up leakng. A rebuilt one is probably your best bet.
Rick Penland

I opened up at 1963 MGB gearbox that had sat for 25 years and it had what appeared to be grease but I think was gelled oil. There was a modest amount of liquid lubricant in the bottom. A similar breakdown could have occurred with your Armstron shock. Some hydraulic oil include additives which may have an adverse effect over time in our old vehicles.

RL Tedrow

I suppose it could be mortified oil in there. It sure stinks like nothing else. As long as the shocks are working, I guess I'll leave them be.

I finally did figure out where the creaking was coming from. It was the polyurethane bushings I put on the A-frames. They have performed much better than the original-style rubber bushings. I put in the polys a couple years ago and they still look good. I removed the outer half of the one that was making the most noise and put some chassis grease on it.

Unfortunately, it seems the other half of that one is still making some noise. So I will remove the A-frame and replace the bushings with new polys. This time I'll chamfer the inner edge of each bushing half so the center of the bushing will hold some grease in reserve.

I used silicone grease the last time, and it has all dried up, so I'm thinking regular petroleum-based chassis grease might be a better choice. Any opinions? -G.
Glenn G

Old shock oil can definitely have a foul odor. When I used to rebuild motorcycle forks, I couldn't believe how bad the smell was. RAY
rjm RAY

This thread was discussed between 30/03/2011 and 21/04/2011

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