VAR Forum

I am presently working on the refurbishment of the 4 Smith Shock Absorbers for a 1927 12/4 Clifton. I have purchased new bushes and friction liners from the VAR spares and am about to commence re-assembly of each unit.
The original linings were grooved and the units were provided with screw down grease caps.
The new replacement linings are not grooved.
My dilemma is now to grease or not to grease?
What is the current logic on this?
Mitch.

Not sure about the logic but when I overhauled my units I greased them and the results are just fine
Regards

Mike Wheadon

Thanks for responding Mike and intimating that you have greased the linings and the units work fine.
I have now assembled my refurbished units dry (no grease) on the workbench. With the tensioner wound down a few turns such that the small coil spring is just starting to be compressed then there is good resistance from the friction liners.
I know the units have provision for introducing grease into the system whereas with brake linings the complete opposite is the norm.
Hope to hear other owners views on grease or no grease.
Regards
Mitch

Mine have greasers and oil holes (no channel in lining though), so I have kept them lubricated - not least to stop the side plates chafing on the strap that wraps around the unit. After several thousand miles they still work (I also lubricate the wood-disc Andre dampers on the Riley, ditto), so it seems to be a different function to the braking system.

Having said that, the front pair are heavily pitted from years left out in the rain - so have much reduced friction surface on either the body or (to a lesser extent) the strap. If anyone has a spare pair knocking around, please let me know..! Will exchange for beer tokens...

Thanks Arabella_12 for your response.
Just as an update on grease or no grease in Smith Shock Absorbers. In addition to the two responses here on the forum for a yes to using grease I have talked to two other VAR members with 12/4's who also confirmed to using grease.
That was enough to convince me to stick with tradition. The refurbished dry units were disassembled and the linings and contact surfaces smeared with grease. Screw down grease caps were also filled with grease.
The assembled units have now been fitted onto the rolling chassis. Only work remaining on these units are to try and recreate the nib on the brass heads of two of the tensioning bolts. This brass nib prevents the tensioning shaft from turning when you screw down the brass butterfly nut.
Regards
Mitch

I am after a set of 4 Smiths shock absorbers for my rebuild if anyone has any.
Thanks
Paul

Now got some.
Thanks
Paul