TheSamba.com :: View topic - Cofap Damper Super Stiff Bad Unit or Newb Mistake

Wed Feb 08, 2023 1:54 pm

Hi All,

Just finished up a new front suspension install in the 70 Ghia, yea little details left but..

My Cofap Damper is crazy stiff. Extending out by hand is a really really hard to pull out but pushing back back in has less tension, and feels more like what a new stiff Damper should do. I had assumed a more even push pull. In fact the pretty gross old Boge damper feels like a damper should with an even in and out.

I did the hold vertical and prime by ext retract etc.
did I screw something up? Are they sometimes bad? is this normal?

The front end is really tight with no damper and all the new ball joints tie rods etc as expected , steering is not binding and triple checked. With the damper installed its almost impossible to turn.

Any guidance appreciated.

Wed Feb 08, 2023 3:14 pm

Sounds like itâs a gas pressure unit. If so, that would be normal.

Wed Feb 08, 2023 3:59 pm

My Ghia has brand new ball-joints, and the steering is unbelievably stiff. But I was warned that would be the case. Apparently the ball-joints need to be "run in".

Thu Feb 09, 2023 8:54 am

Quote: pull out but pushing back

The way I 'test' a steering damper to see if it's any good is to get the rod about half way out (straight ahead position) and vigorously push and pull as fast as I can. Any pause, travel of the rod, before resistance is felt means it's worn. I do it this way as it 'simulates' going over RR tracks when the damper is needed.

Fri Feb 10, 2023 2:26 pm

TDCTDI wrote: Sounds like itâs a gas pressure unit. If so, that would be normal.

Thanks, seems odd that it would do that as it would be harder to turn one direction and not the other.

Fri Feb 10, 2023 2:27 pm

kiwighia68 wrote: My Ghia has brand new ball-joints, and the steering is unbelievably stiff. But I was warned that would be the case. Apparently the ball-joints need to be "run in".

Thank you. Its the damper out of the vehicle.

Fri Feb 10, 2023 2:28 pm

runamoc wrote: Quote: pull out but pushing back

The way I 'test' a steering damper to see if it's any good is to get the rod about half way out (straight ahead position) and vigorously push and pull as fast as I can. Any pause, travel of the rod, before resistance is felt means it's worn. I do it this way as it 'simulates' going over RR tracks when the damper is needed.

yes thank you. The old damper was bad this one is brand new.