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Part # SDKT-6
Save $$ - Repair your fluid dampener
Can You Stop Nose Gear Shimmy? by Dave McFarlane
To repair your fluid dampener, go to Seal and Repair Kits.
For dampener replacement parts, go to Shimmy Dampener Components.
Don't buy a disposable rubber dampener. Save money with replacement PMA parts. McFarlane now has affordable repair parts for the original fluid dampener. Save over $400!
Save more than 50% - Lasts longer!
MC0542120-1 Shaft
Precision machined direct replacements
Quick and easy! We have done the assembly for you
Repair kits include piston assembly and all necessary snap ring(s) and o-ring(s).
Maintenance Tip:
Measure the diameter of the head bearing to determine the correct piston assembly or repair kit. Always replace worn head bearings as they keep the shaft and piston in alignment. Support the shaft well when replacing the piston.
WARNING: Cancer and/or Reproductive Harm - California Proposition 65 Resources
| Make | Model | Start S/N | End S/N | Quantity Per Aircraft | Location | Comment | Eligibility Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna 182K | 182K | S/N 18257626 – 18258505 | 18258505 | Quantity Per Aircraft 1 | Location SHIMMY DAMPENER | Comment includes 18255845 except 18257699 | Eligibility Chart 7081 |
| Cessna 182L | 182L | S/N 18258506 – 18259305 | 18259305 | Quantity Per Aircraft 1 | Location SHIMMY DAMPENER | Comment | Eligibility Chart 7081 |
| Cessna 182M | 182M | S/N 18259306 – 18260055 | 18260055 | Quantity Per Aircraft 1 | Location SHIMMY DAMPENER | Comment includes 18257699 | Eligibility Chart 7081 |
| Cessna 182N | 182N | S/N 18260056 – 18260825 | 18260825 | Quantity Per Aircraft 1 | Location SHIMMY DAMPENER | Comment | Eligibility Chart 7081 |
| Cessna 182P | 182P | S/N 18260826 – 18262465 | 18262465 | Quantity Per Aircraft 1 | Location SHIMMY DAMPENER | Comment | Eligibility Chart 7081 |
| Cessna 182P | 182P | S/N 18262466 – 18265175 | 18265175 | Quantity Per Aircraft 1 | Location SHIMMY DAMPENER | Comment includes 675 except 18263479 | Eligibility Chart 7081 |
| Cessna 182Q | 182Q | S/N 18265176 – 18267715 | 18267715 | Quantity Per Aircraft 1 | Location SHIMMY DAMPENER | Comment includes 18263479 except 18267302 | Eligibility Chart 7081 |
| Cessna 182R | 182R | S/N 18267716 – 18268586 | 18268586 | Quantity Per Aircraft 1 | Location SHIMMY DAMPENER | Comment includes 18267302 | Eligibility Chart 7081 |
| Cessna 182S | 182S | S/N 18280001 – 18280944 | 18280944 | Quantity Per Aircraft 1 | Location SHIMMY DAMPENER | Comment | Eligibility Chart 7081 |
| Cessna 182T | 182T | S/N 18280945 – 18281197 | 18281197 | Quantity Per Aircraft 1 | Location SHIMMY DAMPENER | Comment | Eligibility Chart 7081 |
| Cessna A182K | A182K | S/N A182-0057 – A182-0096 | A182-0096 | Quantity Per Aircraft 1 | Location SHIMMY DAMPENER | Comment | Eligibility Chart 7081 |
| Cessna A182L | A182L | S/N A182-0097 – A182-0116 | A182-0116 | Quantity Per Aircraft 1 | Location SHIMMY DAMPENER | Comment | Eligibility Chart 7081 |
| Cessna A182N | A182N | S/N A182-0117 – A182-0148 | A182-0148 | Quantity Per Aircraft 1 | Location SHIMMY DAMPENER | Comment | Eligibility Chart 7081 |
| Cessna F182P | F182P | S/N F18200001 – F18200025 | F18200025 | Quantity Per Aircraft 1 | Location SHIMMY DAMPENER | Comment | Eligibility Chart 7081 |
| Cessna F182Q | F182Q | S/N F18200026 – F18200169 | F18200169 | Quantity Per Aircraft 1 | Location SHIMMY DAMPENER | Comment | Eligibility Chart 7081 |
| Cessna T182T | T182T | S/N T18208001 – T18208185 | T18208185 | Quantity Per Aircraft 1 | Location SHIMMY DAMPENER | Comment | Eligibility Chart 7081 |
I installed a torque link kit and serviced my shimmy dampener; why do I still have a shimmy problem?
There are many components all connected to keep the nose gear in line. If one component is worn or out of tolerance it can cause shimmy problem. Reference Dave McFarlane’s article: Can You Stop Nose Gear Shimmy instructions and suggestions.
Overlooked items also include the rod ends, shimmy dampener mounting and attachment, shimmy dampener, and steering collar. The steering collar is where the steering rod tubes connect and the upper torque link is attached to, along with the shimmy dampener on most aircraft. If the steering collar has play vertically and laterally and is allowed to tilt; that will cause excessive wear and force on the torque links, steering, and strut components. There are three different thicknesses of shims to help get the collar in place.
Ensure that the shimmy dampener is working properly with no dead spots in dampening action. The cylinder could be worn on the inside or on a piston that warrants replacement of components. All of the nose strut components are tied to each other and any movement is transmitted through to the tire and back through the dampening system, which if remedied will continue to be more pronounced.
What does temperature compensated mean?
When hydraulic oil changes temperature, the volume of the oil also changes. This volume change from a temperature reduction will create a vacuum in the oil chamber of the original Cessna uncompensated shimmy dampener. This vacuum will cause the oil to vaporize giving the oil a foamy expanded mixture that is compressible. The shimmy dampener action is then drastically degraded. An increase in temperature will increase the oil volume causing a drastic pressurization of the dampener oil chamber. This pressure will force small quantities of oil past the dampener shaft seals. The decrease in oil will then aggravate any temperature reduction with increased chamber vacuum and related oil vaporization. This process explains why continuous servicing of the original shimmy dampener is required.
The temperature compensation system works by having a small chamber of oil that is spring pressurized through a very small passage into the main dampening restrictive orifice of the shimmy dampener. The spring loaded oil chamber can adjust for oil volume changes as temperature changes. A similar system is built into your car shock absorbers. The temperature compensated hydraulic system requires very little service over extended periods of time and assures stable shimmy dampening action.
Why is a hydraulic shimmy dampener better than a rubber dampener?
A rubber based dampener is continuously fatiguing the rubber components as it changes direction of motion. The rubber system depends on stable friction of the rubber riding in a metal tube. This is very difficult to achieve over extended usage. There are inherent differences in static friction of rubber and dynamic friction of rubber that affect dampening performance. Long term use changes the performance of the dampener caused by all of these un-repairable factors. The hydraulic system works in a film oil with stable performance for long periods of time and it is totally repairable.