Garth S

No, this is not another post about the 2698H mounts - and yes, , I have a set ready to go in the S4.
This is a question about the lowely, forgotten solid mounts of the early cars with the mini gas shocks.
I disconnected these shocks for the first time ever and loosened the mounts of an '80 prior to doing the pan gasket. I played with these cute little shocks in a moment of stress relief before jacking the engine: The left (driver's side) was soft compared to the very stiff mini to the right.
Not having a replacement, I thought little more of it and bolted every thing back up - eventually. Now that all the projects are done on that car - and before tackling the S4 mounts, I'm asking myself - why not simply switch the mini shocks side to side?
As the engine torques clockwise, the left shock likely gets a more severe workout than the right ( solid rubber in compression on the right vs extension on the left).
Certainly the conventional answer is to pull the VISA and buy one somewhere; however, if the right side mount in torque compression is more gentle on its shock than the left (lift side) - is there merit to simply switching?

edit: this is the magic number post - #911 Double edit :whoops, wrong species, wrong forum, wrong altogether ... just approaching the truely magic number!

Randy V

Good question. Are they interchangeable? If I recall, they're not cheap at somewhere around $100 apiece.

Chris Lockhart

Just swapping them side to side sounds reasonable, as long as they are the same. Definitely buy you more time before having to replace them.

SharkSkin

The one that's still stiff... does it resist expansion as well as contraction? If so then you may not be buying much by simply switching sides.

Garth S

Good point - but no, the 'good' shock cycles perfectly; however, you nudged my neurons correctly - I think that shock extended spontaneously after compression, ie., a gas strut! (easy enough to check, for I will switch them for the short term).
If they are 'gas', I have a place that rebuilds them for ~$12 ( had some hatch/hood shocks rebuilt - still perfect). A good thing to send off this comming winter hibernation.

edit, 15 July; These vibration dampeners are gas charged, very stiff with equal rebound/compression (ie - do not extend like a hood shock). Both sides are identical Stabilius DEU units: They are rebuildable for a nominal fee, and now in the mail for a rehab.

Fabio421

I know this is an old thread. Where can I get my mini shocks rebuilt? Preferably in the US.

Thanks