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filmfolks
Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2022
Posts: 109
Location: CA
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 Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2023 2:28 pm Post subject: Re: Cofap Damper Super Stiff Bad Unit or Newb Mistake |
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| runamoc wrote: |
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| 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. |
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filmfolks
Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2022
Posts: 109
Location: CA
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| Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2023 2:27 pm Post subject: Re: Cofap Damper Super Stiff Bad Unit or Newb Mistake |
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| 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. |
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filmfolks
Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2022
Posts: 109
Location: CA
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| Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2023 2:26 pm Post subject: Re: Cofap Damper Super Stiff Bad Unit or Newb Mistake |
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| 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. |
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runamoc 
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2006
Posts: 6037
Location: 37.5N 77.1W
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| Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2023 8:54 am Post subject: Re: Cofap Damper Super Stiff Bad Unit or Newb Mistake |
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| 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.
_________________
Daily driver: '69 Baja owned 45 yrs - Plan B: '72 Ghia
Yard Art: 2 Sandrails
Outback: '69 Ghia - '68,'69,'70,'72 Beetle - '84 Scirocco, GTI - Pair of '02 Golfs- '80 Rabbit Diesel
VW Wiring = It's just wires |
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kiwighia68
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2013
Posts: 2928
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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| Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2023 3:59 pm Post subject: Re: Cofap Damper Super Stiff Bad Unit or Newb Mistake |
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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".
_________________
Festina lente - hasten slowly
1968 Ghia named Emiko
Resto completed Dec 2015 |
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TDCTDI
Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013
Posts: 13286
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2023 3:14 pm Post subject: Re: Cofap Damper Super Stiff Bad Unit or Newb Mistake |
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Sounds like itâs a gas pressure unit. If so, that would be normal.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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filmfolks
Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2022
Posts: 109
Location: CA
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| Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2023 1:54 pm Post subject: Cofap Damper Super Stiff Bad Unit or Newb Mistake |
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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. |
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