What am I leaking....?

[diablostang]

I have a mystery leak on my car... First time I noticed was yesterday, then I left the car on the trailer overnight.. I came out this afternoon to find it had gotten bad. The boards around are basically soaked in whatever it is that's leaking.

At first I thought it was brake fluid but my M/C is full (I haven't filled it since last year when I did the brakes) and none of the brakelines anywhere near are "wet" .. Everything is bone dry except the rear shock. The fluid that's leaking is VERY similar to the substance and color to motor oil..
I don't know anything about Gas-Shocks, so does anyone think it has something to do with them? Those are Tokiko Illumna shocks, less than 6 months old, and roughly 300 miles on them.

 

[fordtech28]

your shock is probably damaged and its leaking the oil inside of it do you tie down the suspension when you trailer it or do you tie it from the wheel the shocks will get damaged if the suspension is tied down when you are towing it on the trailer

 

[diablostang]

your shock is probably damaged and its leaking the oil inside of it do you tie down the suspension when you trailer it or do you tie it from the wheel the shocks will get damaged if the suspension is tied down when you are towing it on the trailer

I've always tied it down from the axle.. Are you saying it's improper to do that, or not?

Thanks for the reply

 

[bill302]

I've always tied it down from the axle.. Are you saying it's improper to do that, or not?

Thanks for the reply

ya, you have a bad shock its leaking i would return it where you purchased it and get a replacement.and ya you want to tie down at the axles do not tie car down at a place where it would cause suspension to compress..

 

[diablostang]

Okay, thanks! I believe they have a warranty.. Need to pull up my receipt.


Outta curiousity.... I know rollback towtrucks load the suspension when they tow vehicles... if it's bad, why do they do it?

 

[blksn955.o]

The tow drivers I have seen are some of the worst people to properly tie a car/truck down.

Its bad like this, the car is under a down force with straps so its like a compressed string. Now that force is still working when the truck hits a bump. Tie downs fatigue and if the edges are frayed(sp?) or the strap has even a small rip that rebound force can overpower that strap easly. load is then unstable. It also causes things like those leaky shocks (sounds like yours is a defect though). Tires seem to be the best way to tie a car/truck down by strapping the tires down the whole susp. still works and it seems to be less PITA to get the straps setup.

 

[blksn955.o]

Hey Diablostang whats done to your 78? Buddy of mine has a 80 that he put a B.O.P. 400 in with some ported ram air III heads and matched cam and airgap intake (IIRC on the intake). I was really not a fan of those year until I saw his with 3in man. exh. and non-hosed up body. I have found respect for those years lines.

 

[fordtech28]

I've always tied it down from the axle.. Are you saying it's improper to do that, or not?

Thanks for the reply

thats the wrong way to tie down a car specially if you tow it for a while you have to do it from the wheels not the suspension when you tie the car from the suspension you put a lot of stress on the shocks and they will ultimately fail.

 

[divit250r]

thats the wrong way to tie down a car specially if you tow it for a while you have to do it from the wheels not the suspension when you tie the car from the suspension you put a lot of stress on the shocks and they will ultimately fail.

Maybe I misunderstood, but he said he ties it down from the axle. When I take my car to the track, I always loop the strap over the axle tube, so the only thing being compressed is the tires. Actually, the car is more being held front to back than up and down when I strap it. If I understand you correct, that's how you say it should be, right?

Scott

 

[fordtech28]

I misunderstood the axel thing its okay to strap it from the axel tube as long as the suspension is free and moves freely