Protech front shocks upgrade

On the way back from Vienna my nearside front shock absorber developed a fault - no dampening at all. The suspension happily bouncing the wheel rather than hugging the surface.

Two options:

1. Reasonable repair by Gaz to re-build the bad shock, probably should do both fronts though. ~£50 each by the time I add return postage on to their fee.

2. Replace both fronts with something new. Say more like £100 per shock, but also lets me do a little like for like comparison between components.

I chose the latter.

I hadn't recorded the part numbers on original build, and not taking anything for granted measured up and verified the spec with a very responsive Protech before ordering.

Fronts as per Protech's standard Zero spec, certainly slimmer than the Gaz's and felt significantly lighter although I didn't weigh them. I'm thinking about some DIY covers/boots for them, although the Gaz' looks haven't faired too badly for 5 years in the elements.

No problem fitting, around an hour to do both, wheels stay on, new nylocs and an extra spacing washers on the top ends. Stock 350lbs springs re-used. Aligned on ~120mm above the deck. 10mm higher than standard GBS settings to try and avoid road humps.

Need some testing - then perhaps up-rate the rear springs from 250 to 275lbs to see if that reduces the tendancy to wear away the seat bolts on bumpier roads.

Update - one short spin later, shocks set at +2 clicks, +3 is ok but a little hard for bumpy roads.

Brake fluid change

5 years in, brake fluid has a life of somewhere near 2-3 years depending on how much water it absorbs - so overdue for a change.

This little gadget for ~£5 from Ebay was indicating between 2% and 3% water when dipped in the reservoir. Off the scale when dipped in the extracted fluid.

My Gunson Eezibleed was broken out of storage and used to push out the majority of the old fluid (without introducing air to the brake lines) then push in new fluid behind it. It uses pressure from one tyre rather than the traditional two man synchronised brake pedal/bleed nipple approach.

Bleed through each calipper, starting furthest from the brake cylinder, until the fluid ran clear. Of course one bleed nipple was stuck - offside rear - where I had least working space in the garage but a little WD40 loosened it.

Pictured:  ~0.5 litres of old darker removed fluid (left), vs new clear fluid.

Brake pedal feels hard enough, subject to a test run we should be good for another few years.

Note to self - add double garage with a recess in the floor for a scissor jack to the wish-list.