[DeTomaso] Aldan shock leak report

[Mike Thomas]

John, et al

When I got my rear Aldans rebuilt recently, and they sent me a new set of
bushings to go with them, the new bushings were just a tiny bit narrower
than the original bushings.  Where before I could not get the sleeve flush
with the bushings when I installed them the first time, this time was able
to with no problems, and the installation went fine.  I think they modified
their bushing design slightly to avoid the kind of over-tight binding the
Pantera, and I'm sure many other, owner's have been experiencing.

Time will tell, but I'm ordering a new set for the front as well.

Mike Thomas 

-----Original Message-----
From: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com [mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com] On
Behalf Of John McKee
Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2010 12:53 AM
To: DeTomaso List
Subject: [DeTomaso] Aldan shock leak report

Last week I was finally getting around to installing my Aldan shocks
(purchased 18 months ago) and when I pulled them out of the box they all had
a small drop of oil leaking out of the shaft area.  Friday I took them up to
Aldan in Carson CA and met with Ferrell.  He took one look and said they
should not be leaking at all.  They rebuilt them Monday and called me to
pick them up free of charge.  The Aldan shock company gets a perfect 10 on
customer service!

Now, why did they leak?  Ferrell's answer was that the shocks don't like to
sit.  My first thought was that sitting 18 months in a cool dark garage is
not an extended storage time but we are talking about rubber seals.  Really
no different than all of the other rubber hoses and seals on our cars,
sitting just accelerates the break down process.  Mad Dawg reports no leaks
on his Aldans and unlike me he drives, races and even lights his car on fire
occasionally.  So I think that point is valid that the shocks need to have
movement on a regular basis to keep the seals lubed.  Ferrell suggested that
if your car has been sitting you can just push it up and down a few times to
keep the seals happy.

Next I asked him what causes the failures that I have been hearing about and
he said most every time it is either the shocks were over tightened and
could not move properly or the suspension travel is not correct and the
shocks are bottoming out or over extending.  As Mike Thomas wrote earlier in
the month the bushing should not spin in the shock, the bushing should spin
on the inner sleeve.   There is not a torque spec, Ferrell just said it
needs to be snug.  See Mike's description for tightening and checking
bushing movement;
http://realbig.com/pipermail/detomaso/2010-August/125256.html

To check the shock travel he suggested putting a plastic zip tie on the
shaft and drive around.  If it is buried all the way at the top of the shaft
you are bottoming out.  If it has only moved 1/2" then you do not have
enough travel.

On my visits to Aldan I didn't sense any conspiracy or cover up of bad
products.  They seem to really believe in their work and obviously stand
behind it.

John

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