Priming britpart shocks?

Advice please

Just replaced the front shocks on my 98 300tdi disco due to lots of bounce and worn out bushes and bush locating plates. The problem is the new britpart hydraulic shocks have made only a small amount of improve ment? Should I have primed them?:doh: Will they self prime the more I use the vehicle? Could it be something else causing the bounce/vibration through the steering column?

You mean Britpart didn't send them out with fitting instructions?

Dunno about Britpart shocks as such, but every time I've fitted new shocks (not just on the Landrovers) I've primed them by opening up fully, closing fully, opening fully letting rest for 10 seconds or so then closing fully, then opening and closing them slowly a few times before fitting.

i just bolted mine straight on, immense improvement, didnt prime em, never heard of that. then again they were the only shocks ive ever fitted personally. Trusted brand though. britpart are apparenty "not that good". (just what ive heard - ive never used em)

I've got ****part 'Cellular Dynamics' on mine all round. Made a huge difference!

I've never heard of priming a damper either...

You should always prime an hydraulic damper before fitting.

This could be one example of why Britpart get a bad name? If parts are not fitted correctly there's a chance they might not work correctly.

And please don't say it's Britparts' fault for not telling the punter, this is common knowledge. We should all take responsibility for our actions and stop trying to foist the blame onto someone else.

We used to do it when I was racing, told to do so by a Hagon technician, just done it ever since ..

Its common sense to fully open and close shocks, even if its just to ensure that they don't leak. No point putting something on if it already faulty!!

Paul D is right, I had to do correct shock absorber fitting as a course when i worked in the tyre trade and this is the correct procedure to prime all shock absorbers
Mark

haybales said:

Advice please

Just replaced the front shocks on my 98 300tdi disco due to lots of bounce and worn out bushes and bush locating plates. The problem is the new britpart hydraulic shocks have made only a small amount of improve ment? Should I have primed them?:doh: Will they self prime the more I use the vehicle? Could it be something else causing the bounce/vibration through the steering column?

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There are loads of reasons why you are getting these symptoms:

Worn wheel bearings
Worn swivel bearing
Worn bushes in the tie rods
Worn bushes in the Panhard rod
Wheels need balancing
Worn steering damper

Etc etc

You really need to apply a methodical approach to the diagnosis before replacing parts otherwise you'll end up spending more than you need.

I had to open and close them during fitting anyway

Thanks for the advice

This is the first time I have replaced shocks on a vehicle and I only heard about priming after fitting them.

If I use the Disco off road and articulate the axle surely this will prime them? I will try it first before removing them again.

haybales said:

Thanks for the advice

This is the first time I have replaced shocks on a vehicle and I only heard about priming after fitting them.

If I use the Disco off road and articulate the axle surely this will prime them? I will try it first before removing them again.

Click to expand...

The problem is that when they are on the car they almost never fully extend and contract.

haybales said:

Advice please

Just replaced the front shocks on my 98 300tdi disco due to lots of bounce and worn out bushes and bush locating plates. The problem is the new britpart hydraulic shocks have made only a small amount of improve ment? Should I have primed them?:doh: Will they self prime the more I use the vehicle? Could it be something else causing the bounce/vibration through the steering column?

Click to expand...

I had to prime my brand new ones cheap black britpart ones for a disco i was moving on, MUST be done vertically though otherwise it will have no effect (you can pump em all day horizontally and they wont prime - as the kid found out)

Cant see em priming on the vehicle tbh, not enough travel