[FONT=Arial][SIZE=3]Somehow the rubber bushing on one side of my MCS’s little damper (gas strut/shock absorber) on the tensioner mechanism has fallen out. At a loss as to how this could have happened. I now have a nice rattle from the damper housing contacting the bolt directly. From the agents it is only possible to buy the whole tensioner mechanism on a core exchange basis (extremely expensive) and there is nothing wrong with the rest. I can have a bushing made up but it would be nice to replace the damper, it works over a very short range of travel and it doesn’t feel so smooth anymore. Anybody knows of a place that sells only the damper? Anyone with a similar experience?[/SIZE][/FONT]

The last time this subject came up the answer was 'no' but hopefully someone has now found a source.

Nope. The supplier has no way of selling just the damper. Whole assembly has to be purchased......about $100-130

Thanks for the replies (and pm) I received. The price for this assembly is around $200 in South Africa - had one in my hands at a dealer yesterday but I am not going to pay this as the rest of the assy is still perfect. Still cannot figure out how the bushing got out...I will try and make up a solid bushing out of nylon.

Heads up Im looking for it now but I know I saw on powerflex's site they have a replacement bushing for that dampner.

Yep, they sell replacement bushings via MossMINI.

http://www.mossmini.com/Shop/ViewPro...81&SortOrder=1

I also saw the bushings on Powerflex's site a few weeks ago. I made a bushing sleeve out of nylon and it is holding up OK so far but I will most likely buy the Powerflex ones soon.

Another option is to contact Stabilus...
http://www.stabilus.de/us/main/products/dampers.html

...they are the ones that manufacture the damper, i'm sure they would have one that will interchange from some other application. As long as the dimensions and rating are the same, or even close for that matter.

As for the bushings......These won't do anything to prolong the life of the damper. All they replace are the end bushings which aren't a problem on the OEM damper. The damper itself is prone to failing.

i have a fairly new tensioner on thats rattling around because of the two bushings are shot. Ill know the full story on my current dampner tomorrow but im like 90% sure its only the bushings in my case.