1. Introduction
Thank you for choosing the Cusco Touring A Full-Length Adjustable Shock Absorber. This product is designed to provide superior ride comfort and handling stability for your Nissan Caravan NV350 (E26 series). It features 40-stage damping force adjustment, allowing for precise tuning to suit various driving conditions and preferences. This manual provides essential information for proper installation, operation, and maintenance to ensure optimal performance and longevity of your shock absorbers.
2. Safety Information
- Professional Installation Recommended: Installation of suspension components requires specialized tools and knowledge. It is highly recommended that this product be installed by a qualified professional technician.
- Vehicle Compatibility: Ensure this product is compatible with your specific vehicle model (Nissan Caravan NV350, E26 series, VR2E26 (2WD) / VN6E26 (4WD)) before installation. Refer to your vehicle's documentation or the manufacturer's website.
- Secure Fasteners: Always use appropriate torque specifications for all fasteners. Improperly tightened bolts can lead to component failure and serious accidents.
- Personal Protective Equipment: Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (e.g., safety glasses, gloves) during installation.
- Vehicle Support: Always support the vehicle securely on jack stands before working underneath it. Never rely solely on a jack.
- Post-Installation Check: After installation, perform a thorough check of all components, ensuring proper clearance and functionality. A wheel alignment is mandatory after suspension component replacement.
3. Package Contents
The Cusco Touring A Shock Absorber set includes the following components:
- Front Shock Absorbers: 2 units
- Rear Shock Absorbers: 2 units
- Instruction Manual: 1 copy
Note: This product alone does not provide vehicle lowering. Separate down blocks or other lowering components are required to achieve a lowered stance.
4. Setup and Installation
This section outlines the general steps for installing the Cusco Touring A shock absorbers. For detailed vehicle-specific procedures, consult a professional service manual or a qualified technician.
4.1 Pre-Installation Checks
- Verify all components are present and undamaged.
- Confirm vehicle compatibility (Nissan Caravan NV350, E26 series).
- Gather necessary tools, including a torque wrench, jack, and jack stands.
4.2 General Installation Steps
- Safely lift and support the vehicle on a level surface.
- Remove the wheels.
- Carefully remove the original shock absorbers according to your vehicle's service manual.
- Install the new Cusco Touring A shock absorbers, ensuring all mounting points are correctly aligned.
- Tighten all bolts and nuts to the vehicle manufacturer's specified torque values.
- Reinstall the wheels and lower the vehicle.
- Perform a test drive to check for any abnormal noises or handling characteristics.
- Mandatory: Have a professional wheel alignment performed immediately after installation.
4.3 Height Adjustment
The Touring A shock absorbers are a full-length adjustable type, allowing you to adjust the shock absorber length to match your desired vehicle height without compromising bump or rebound stroke. The adjustment range is:
- Front: -45mm to 0mm (compared to genuine vehicle height)
- Rear: -35mm to 0mm (compared to genuine vehicle height)
To adjust the height, loosen the lock collars and rotate the lower bracket to lengthen or shorten the shock absorber body. Ensure both sides of the vehicle are adjusted equally. Re-tighten the lock collars securely after adjustment.
Image: Close-up of the threaded body and adjustment collar on the Cusco Touring A shock absorber. This mechanism allows for precise vehicle height adjustment.
5. Operating Instructions
5.1 Damping Force Adjustment
The Cusco Touring A shock absorbers feature 40-stage damping force adjustment, allowing you to fine-tune the ride characteristics. The adjustment is made via a knurled dial, which can be operated by hand without the need for special tools.
- Location: The adjustment dial is typically located at the top of the shock absorber shaft (for front) or at the bottom (for rear, depending on design).
- Adjustment: Rotate the dial to increase or decrease damping force. Turning the dial towards 'Hard' (usually clockwise) increases damping force, resulting in a firmer ride. Turning it towards 'Soft' (usually counter-clockwise) decreases damping force, resulting in a softer ride.
- Settings: Experiment with different settings to find the optimal balance for your driving style, road conditions, passenger load, and cargo weight.
Image: Close-up of the damping force adjustment dial on the Cusco Touring A shock absorber. This knurled dial allows for 40-stage adjustment by hand.
5.2 Recommended Settings
While specific settings are subjective, here are general guidelines:
- City Driving / Comfort: Softer settings (lower numbers) are generally preferred for improved ride comfort over uneven city roads.
- Highway Driving / Stability: Firmer settings (higher numbers) can enhance stability and reduce body roll at higher speeds or during cornering.
- Heavy Load / Many Passengers: Increase damping force to compensate for the added weight and maintain control.
6. Maintenance
Proper maintenance ensures the longevity and performance of your Cusco Touring A shock absorbers.
- Regular Inspection: Periodically inspect the shock absorbers for any signs of oil leaks, damage to the body or shaft, or worn bushings.
- Cleanliness: Keep the shock absorber bodies and adjustment mechanisms clean, especially after driving in harsh conditions (e.g., mud, salt). This helps prevent corrosion and ensures smooth operation of the adjustment dials.
- Fastener Checks: Occasionally check the tightness of all mounting bolts and nuts. Re-torque if necessary according to vehicle manufacturer specifications.
- Rust Prevention: The threaded parts feature nickel plating + chrome plating, and brackets have cation electrodeposition coating for rust prevention. However, regular cleaning and inspection in corrosive environments are still recommended.
7. Troubleshooting
If you experience issues with your shock absorbers, consider the following:
| Symptom | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Excessive Bouncing / Soft Ride | Damping force set too soft; worn shock absorber. | Increase damping force; inspect for leaks or damage. |
| Harsh Ride / Stiff Ride | Damping force set too hard; incorrect spring rate (if applicable). | Decrease damping force. |
| Abnormal Noises (clunking, squeaking) | Loose mounting bolts; worn bushings; damaged components. | Check and re-torque all fasteners; inspect bushings and components for wear or damage. |
| Oil Leaks | Damaged seal; internal component failure. | Replace the shock absorber. Contact support if within warranty. |
| Uneven Vehicle Height | Unequal height adjustment; damaged component. | Re-adjust height evenly; inspect for damage. |
If troubleshooting steps do not resolve the issue, contact Cusco customer support or a qualified automotive technician.
8. Specifications
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Model Number | 852-62N-B |
| Vehicle Application | Nissan Caravan NV350 (E26 series), VR2E26 (2WD) / VN6E26 (4WD) |
| Shock Absorber Type | Twin-tube, Full-length Adjustable |
| Damping Force Adjustment | 40-stage (tool-free dial) |
| Front Height Adjustment Range | -45mm to 0mm (compared to genuine) |
| Rear Height Adjustment Range | -35mm to 0mm (compared to genuine) |
| Rust Prevention | Nickel plating + Chrome plating (threaded parts), Cation electrodeposition coating (brackets) |
| Special Features | CPRV (Pressure Proper Optimization Valve) for optimal ride comfort and handling stability. |
| Manufacturing | ISO9001 certified domestic production |
Image: A pair of Cusco Touring A shock absorbers, showcasing their blue finish and robust construction.
Image: Diagram illustrating the internal structure of a twin-tube shock absorber, highlighting its design for smooth damping characteristics.
9. Warranty
Cusco provides a warranty for this product against defects in materials and workmanship under normal use and service.
- Warranty Period: 1 year or 10,000 kilometers, whichever comes first, from the date of purchase.
- Coverage: This warranty covers manufacturing defects. It does not cover damage caused by improper installation, misuse, abuse, accidents, modifications, or normal wear and tear.
- Claim Process: For warranty claims, please retain your proof of purchase and contact your authorized Cusco dealer or Cusco customer support.
10. Support
For further assistance, technical inquiries, or support regarding your Cusco Touring A shock absorbers, please contact:
- Cusco Official Website: www.cusco.co.jp (Please check for regional websites)
- Authorized Dealer: Refer to your purchase receipt or the Cusco website to locate an authorized dealer near you.
When contacting support, please have your product model number (852-62N-B) and proof of purchase readily available.
