Help! ACR shock leakage!!

[Mopar Boy]

Well, had the Viper on a lift last night getting everything ready to leave for VOI in a few days and low and behold, my passenger side shock is a little sticky! Looks like some fluid has leaked out the top.

I have read about ACR shock issues (Dynamics on my car) but have never seen one or read enough on them as to what to do.

At this point, it is more of a question of is the car driveable or do I need to find a very fast shock repair facility? I leave Sunday AM so......

Why now!

ANyone with any advice is appreciated! Will upload pics as soon as the gallery is active again and now down for maintainance.

Robert

 

[GTS Dean]

Drive the car.

 

[bluesrt]

drive the car---just not like a scoulded dog---im shure a vendor will fix you up out there

 

[V10SpeedLuvr]

If you need to upload pics, just use photobucket.com. If you dont have an account (they're free) email me the pic and I'll post it for you.

 

[Mopar Boy]

Thanks Chad. Email just went your way!

 

[redtanrt10]

Drive your viper and call JonB, he more than likely has one he can bring and swap you at VOI.

I'm sure you'll find a number of folks to help with the install, those coilovers are fairly easy to change.

 

[V10SpeedLuvr]

Thanks Chad. Email just went your way!

I guessed you missed the sarcasm of me offering to help you Just kidding, here's the pic

You must be registered for see images

 

[Bill Pemberton Woodhouse]

There will not be any Vendors who can help you other than replacing it with a different system. Company is bankrupt and though there is a chance it can be repaired ( Carl Haas was the distributor for them and he has one guy on staff that still attempts to redo them ), it would be better in my opinion to just replace all the shocks. They are notorious for leaking and most don't know it as they just seep. Like others have recommended I would just drive the car, and you will probably experience the one benefit that seems to occur with these lovely cannisters of cushioning start leaking -- it might ride better,ha.

See you in Salt Lake and hang in there!

Check your PM.

 

[Mopar Boy]

I guessed you missed the sarcasm of me offering to help you

Not at all. I do find it very ironic. Red guy helping yellow guy. Was not sure what to say! Was a very strange feeling having a kind offer from the other side!

You must be registered for see images

Thats the bugger! Sideways, but thats the bugger!

 

[JonB]

Drive the car.

What DeanIII Said

Normal for some seepage, really. Drive normally, but dont do any whoop-dee-dooo bottoming out. BE ALERT to unusual rebound bounciness...... that car was sprung so HARD OE (too hard) the valving was useless anyway!

If you car replaced those overly-stiff OE springs, then the lower spring rates can be "bouncy" and twitchy on rolling, off-camber public roads.

 

[PatentLaw]

I hate to bring up old arguments, but if you read the service manual, this is not a huge problem. From another thread.

http://forums.viperclub.org/tire-wheel-brake-suspension/606487-repair-acr-shock.html

Best regards,

Plaw

 

[2000_Black_RT10]

Hey Robert, got your PM. You do that there's a DS division about 1/2 hour or so from your home? I''ll show the damper expert guys at work your leaky pic, otherwise I'll what can be done, what's in storage.

Bill P., a reason why DS suggests to use Haas for rebuilds is because that it's more cost effective rather than shipping to Canada or the England facility (where they were originally designed way back then) for the folks in the US. Dynamic Suspensions is doing quite well (F1, GT1,2,3 etc..), far from being bankrupt, see www.dynamicsuspensions.com which is a suspension division that Multimatic owns.

I got your email, I'll send you one tomorrow morning from work.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[RTTTTed]

I was just going to suggest that living in Ontario is probably the best place to be with a leaky ACR shock - thanks to you Mike.

 

[Mopar Boy]

What DeanIII Said

Normal for some seepage, really. Drive normally, but dont do any whoop-dee-dooo bottoming out. BE ALERT to unusual rebound bounciness...... that car was sprung so HARD OE (too hard) the valving was useless anyway!
.

That makes sense. My big worry was the track at VOI.... Not sure I would trust a leaky shock at 3 digit speeds or if that was on your list of whoop-de-doo!

I hate to bring up old arguments, but if you read the service manual, this is not a huge problem. From another thread.

http://forums.viperclub.org/tire-wheel-brake-suspension/606487-repair-acr-shock.html

Best regards,

Plaw

You got it. Thats why I posted the pic. Not sure if that amount is "normal leakage" or too much leakage.

Hey Robert, got your PM. You do that there's a DS division about 1/2 hour or so from your home?

I know a little about it but not much. Thats why I PMed you!

I''ll show the damper expert guys at work your leaky pic, otherwise I'll what can be done, what's in storage.


I got your email, I'll send you one tomorrow morning from work.

Cheers,
Mike

Thanks Mike! You are the best!

 

[bluesrt]

throw those pieces of **** away and buy some new ones

 

[Mopar Boy]

throw those pieces of **** away and buy some new ones

Maybe at somepiont I will, but with VOI coming, the cheapest fix right now is the best!

 

[2000_Black_RT10]

throw those pieces of **** away and buy some new ones

It's often folks complain such as this, but I understand. It's a race style damper, and not sure if this is regarding performance on a race track or is it just the leak? Typically in the high end racing world, dampers are rebuilt every race. They really aren't suitable for civilian cars without being maintained long term, then there's dirty street use (unless for WRC, Baja, etc.), etc.. extra seals and protection aren't a criteria for a road race car. Chrysler surely chose to use a race style damper on a street car. They do need to be maintained, cleaned up on a regular basis (especially top of the sleeve), because over time dirt will make it's way past the dust seal and into a primary seal and a leak will occur. If this is not addressed at the first time of a leak, over time the shaft will get worn which will need to be replaced. Otherwise, put a boot of some type over the shaft and sleeve. The key aspect of this damper style is performance not street durability. As in any type of high performance component requires more maintenance. Red Bull F1, and many other race teams ride on Dynamic suspensions dampers, they do have a superior reputation in the racing world. Yet for those that evaluate a damper based on reading about a leak on a street car, there's bit more content to evaluate prior to determining an opinion. Yet, it's the internet, so it's inevitable... fair game on ranting opinions.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[2000_Black_RT10]

I was just going to suggest that living in Ontario is probably the best place to be with a leaky ACR shock - thanks to you Mike.

We'll take care of MoparBoy / Robert tomorrow / Friday, also provide some adjustment advice etc.. how can anyone not want to help our MoparBoy!

See you tomorrow Robert,
Mike

 

[Mopar Boy]

Thanks Mike! You guys are the best!

 

[RTTTTed]

So Mopar Boy is fixed up and smarter than me now (about the shock valve adjusting anyway) after visting Mike.

I hear you have some pics to show me Mopar Boy?

 

[Kala]

I hear you have some pics to show me Mopar Boy?

Yes, it was stills from SMOTY's garage security cam... All that could be made out was a red blur with yellow sneakers near the passenger side of SMOTY's car...

Have fun in SLC guys!

 

[Mopar Boy]

So Mopar Boy is fixed up and smarter than me now (about the shock valve adjusting anyway) after visting Mike.

I hear you have some pics to show me Mopar Boy?

I know nothing!

Yes, Mike was able to get me in touch with the right people!

Yes, it was stills from SMOTY's garage security cam... All that could be made out was a red blur with yellow sneakers near the passenger side of SMOTY's car...

Have fun in SLC guys!

Lol. Yeah. I still think Chad is involved with this somehow! Maybe he does not want to ride in a yellow car as it may destroy his theory on what really is faster!

And by that last line Kala, I gather I will not be meeting you in SLC?

 

[Kala]

Sadly, no... Not this year...

I had a litter of puppies due tomorrow from 2 International Champions... Or so we thought... Turns out she's not pregnant, and it was too late for me to make other arrangements

Hopefully you guys will post some photos and stuff from VOI... (hint.. hint.. Gen V)

 

[RTTTTed]

Another Viper owner that is know on the Viper forums isn't going to make it? This time the big attraction is a racing venue and YOU'RE not gonna make it???

No cute 'lil Devil number?

Ted