front shock absorber - is the dust cover part of the shock absorber unit - wondered what the clunking noise was when i turned corners - pic attached

[danieldavid]

hi, had a clunking noise from front only at full lock, though tthere was a bit of stiction in bearings but turns out it was a bit more than that - first pic attached. phew.. thankfully the tyre survived. Ive stripped it - second pic, shock seems fine, ordered a spring and bearing, but looks like i need a top mount and dust cover. Is the dustcover and piece of metal on the top end of the shock its connected to part of the actual rcz shock absorber or does this come off somehow and can it be bought and replaced? If so how do you get it off, does it unscrew by putting a hex into the shock bar to stop it turning and what do you turn, or do you use pliers, ive already removed the thin wide flat nut from the top of that end, thanks for anyone able to give suggestions. If i cant replace the dust cover i might be best to buy a used shock with everything on it. I havent been able to get the metal dome and dustcover off as yet, wondered if its non removable.

thanks for any advice

ps, on a completely seperate issue, i replaced the little clip on the plastic slave clutch assembly that had rusted on my second rcz, hence it lost fluid and clutch failed, but pedal still goes to the floor, how do you bleed the clutch system on the diesel, i tried filing the little white top up tank for brake / clutch fluid, when i pumped the pedal it pushed a bit of fluid out of the circuit at the slave before i reconected it. Theres a little rubber red cover over a bleed nipple, but im scared to turn the plastic screw under it as i dont know if this is meant to turn or only cosmetic, I dont think it turns, unless its really tight, i dont want to break the plastic, not quite sure how the bleed it, i read somewhere that you bleed from that red covered nipple on the slave, but im not sure if its meant to be unscrwed under the red rubber cover, or if the air is meant to be removed some other way. Ive done this with engine off, i dont know if engine running makes a difference.

thans for any advice

 

[danieldavid]

second pic of stripped shock, didnt upload minutes ago, i dont know if and how i get the metal dome and dustcover seperate, and if a replacement can be bought.

 

[EddieJ]

that’s how the look new, (in the pic) as you have said you need a new dust boot and strut top mount but be sure to buy the full strut top mount, quiet a few aftermarket ones available are just the bear and judging by the condition of what left you’d be better with a full mount. You don’t want to start re assembling and then discover the old one is too corroded to reuse. Check the strut top on the other side too, if the bearing is going/gone the snatching as it tries to rotate can be a factor in the spring breaking. I think what you’re seeing as a metal bit is corrosion that has adhered to the bump stop dome top that goes into the top of the dust boot.
Ps i am a believer in pairs too, keep the handling and balance right.

 

[EddieJ]

 

[danieldavid]

many thanks eddie, thats really helpful advice. im tempted to just buy a lower milleage used complete one for the time being as ive got to try to source the cover from somewhere, a used one would quickly solve that, and save compressing a new spring, ive got the 3 part compression tool, it looks like from what youve found as well is that that rusted dome sitting over the dust cover on the upper end, must come off somehow, but ill try to fit new parts if i can source a cover. ive got springs on the way for both sides and a bearing, i thought the mount would be ok, but i was able to force the metal pipe out of the middle of the rubber, so its had it as well, but they are available in many places, just the cover to try to source. yes, that makes sense the 2 sides go at similar times, One of my other cars went with a year of each other

 

[EddieJ]

 

[danieldavid]

just saw your pic of dust covers, those were the closest looking ones i found as well, the shape of the bottom matches the remains of the original one, the metal dome on my shock at the top i reckon must be part of the mount not the shock absorber then. i'll have a look at one of the complete sets you mentioned and see what parts it comes with. hopefully i can get the rusted half dome off the top of the shock. many thanks again

 

[danieldavid]

thanks Eddie, just saw your pic of the 5 components, ive got the two nuts, and the concave smaller part than goes in engine bay with one of nuts, the bottom right has to be the bearing, got that ordered, and the top left is the mount that i was able to push the metal pipe out of the rubber which is the part i need to order, yet none of this matches the semi dome metal shape on the shock. Ill try and searvch and work out what that is, if its not [art of the mount kit and not part of the shock absorber.

 

[danieldavid]

thanks Eddie, just saw your pic of the 5 components, ive got the two nuts, and the concave smaller part than goes in engine bay with one of nuts, the bottom right has to be the bearing, got that ordered, and the top left is the mount that i was able to push the metal pipe out of the rubber which is the part i need to order, yet none of this matches the semi dome metal shape on the shock. Ill try and searvch and work out what that is, if its not [art of the mount kit and not part of the shock absorber.

 

[danieldavid]

thanks Eddie, just saw your pic of the 5 components, ive got the two nuts, and the concave smaller part than goes in engine bay with one of nuts, the bottom right has to be the bearing, got that ordered, and the top left is the mount that i was able to push the metal pipe out of the rubber which is the part i need to order, yet none of this matches the semi dome metal shape on the shock. Ill try and searvch and work out what that is, if its not [art of the mount kit and not part of the shock absorber.