My reasoning is that I wouldn't replace all eight damper bolts because one unscrewed itself. Quite simple really. Yes, of course it might happen again and if it does I'll replace it again. Anyway I'll continue happily driving her with her 'shagged out dampers', another mis-diagnosis. They are fine as are the damper bolts.

If they really are "fine", then you would notice a MARKED difference with the damper effectively missing off one corner.

As for 'another misdiagnosis', perhaps you're talking about a different component, as there are only four damper mounting bolts.

in Pauls defence a 2cv with a duff shock/missing shock doesnt handle quite as badly as some cars with a defective shock, lost one on my 99 and that was scary! likewise nearly tipped a transit van once.

Sean

I guess it depends on the chassis, I had a duff shocker (not fallen off, just really ducked) on my yellow car (Frome chassis) and that was bloody awful.

I had a celeste spesh that I cut and shut a few years back, that was missing both its rear shockers and the drive home was hilarious. once it got in a rythym you could bounce the back end off the ground. GR8-4-DRFTN.

After taking them off and cleaning stuff ajusting bits id managed to put my rears on back to front and not noticed in the haste to head to York

you could get it bunny hopping empty!

sean

Yes, I've done that. It's remarkable what a difference it makes.

I wonder if the shock absorbers were faulty on my old white 2cv, when you went round bends at any speed, the back end would jump sideways. It passed MOTs with this problem so I just assumed 2cv cars always did this.

Miarke

MOTs don't really check dampers for fookedness. Just if they're leaking or the bushes are shagged. They can be fitted in all sorts of inconsistent and wrong directions, or just plain do absolutely nothing, and pass happily. It's about the biggest blind-spot in the MOT.

I've yet to see an MOT tester check a batteur either. I walked away when I asked how they tested them the last time the ami failed on worn dampers, and was told 'bounced it up and down a bit' that tests the batteur how? Ever seen an Ami6 that was taught and firm? Fitted new dampers, no difference. Great.