sstrickstein

So I was at a car show last night and a dweeb backed into my back bumper just enough to push in one of the bumper shocks. Can these be pulled out or will I just do more damage trying.

SeanR

I've heard you can take a deflated basketball, stuff it in there and inflate it and it will push them back out. I've not tried it but it sounds plausible. Sorry to hear someone bumped you.

jcorenman

My understanding (from the interwebs) is that they are hydrauilic shock-absorbers, tack-welded at full extension. If they get bumped with something larger than a shopping cart then the weld breaks and the shock absorber absorbs the impact, within its limits.

And yes, you can pull them back out (Sean's basketball trick sounds perfect) but without the tack-weld they won't stay there-- basically a one-time-use device.

Maybe they had been bumped already?

Used ones from 928 Int'l are not expensive, $50 for early cars and $100 for S4+.

tailpipe

Once you push the shock back out just put a hose clamp on the shaft to hold it out...

sstrickstein

Great idea!! I tried it this afternoon and pop!!! Out it came to original position! Great tip thanks!!

Mrmerlin

once the shocks have been compressed then the 5 MPH safety barrier that it provides has gone away, the next time you get tapped on the bumper figure that the bumper will collapse to the stop possibly resulting in damage to the PU cover.
I would get a used set of shocks and install them to provide continued 5 MPH protection.
As previously stated the shocks are one time use,
using a hose clamp may not provide the protection that a good shock would provide

jcorenman

I think we need to get Bilstein to make some gas-filled pumper-shocks, that would re-extend themselves after getting bumped.
What do you think, Roger? Roger?? Are you there ??

Mrmerlin

Jim are you considering entering the demolition derby?

fredubicle

Could you please elaborate on the "deflated basketball" fix for the rear bumper shock? I noticed one of mine is compressed and also slightly deflected to one side. Where do you place the ball to avoid damaging anything else?

Thanks.