Identifying a worn-out shock absorber

Post Thu Dec 01, 2005 3:19 pm

With a (gas) shock absorber out of the car, how would you tell if it's worn out or not?

Leaks are one obvious thing & if they don't re-extend, or they feel generally rough or slack then that's got to be a fair giveaway I know.

Is it ok for them to make any noise though, or should they be silent?

Cheers

Post Thu Dec 01, 2005 3:33 pm

I know oil shocks make a noise, but im not sure about gas ones. The effects should be the same thou. It should feel smooth when moving in/out, constant resistance.

Post Thu Dec 01, 2005 3:38 pm

on the car.. push the car down, and it should settle straight away with no bouncing

Post Thu Dec 01, 2005 3:43 pm

I only ask cos I got some M3 front shocks off eGay, & want to be certain they're ok before I use em!

Anyone know about the noise? Cheers

Post Thu Dec 01, 2005 4:27 pm

Ziggy wrote:I only ask cos I got some M3 front shocks off eGay, & want to be certain they're ok before I use em!

Anyone know about the noise? Cheers

was playing about with some ford scrote ones at college last night, they're gas and oil..

good ones made no discernable noise, just offered resistance on way down and returned to position at once.

basically, a shock is gubbed if there is little or no resistance when pushing down on the top

Post Thu Dec 01, 2005 4:35 pm

Cheers...

Basically they feel fine, but you can definately hear the gas / oil / whatever, moving inside...

Has something leaked to where it shouldn't be?

Post Thu Dec 01, 2005 4:40 pm

Ziggy wrote:Cheers...

Basically they feel fine, but you can definately hear the gas / oil / whatever, moving inside... Has something leaked to where it shouldn't be?

the fluid moves through a very small hole, hence the resistance, at worst should only hear it very quietly when held at your ear and pushed, but if at arms length should be quiet

Post Thu Dec 01, 2005 5:31 pm

Took some knackered ones off my car. When I compressed them there was little or no resistance and then they took an age to fully extend again (if at all

). There was plenty of resistance in the new good ones and they extended pretty quickly. Does that make sense?

Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 11:51 am

sabrje wrote:Took some knackered ones off my car. When I compressed them there was little or no resistance and then they took an age to fully extend again (if at all ). There was plenty of resistance in the new good ones and they extended pretty quickly. Does that make sense?

Yup that makes perfect sense, but these ones certainly aren't *that* bad!

320Touring wrote: the fluid moves through a very small hole, hence the resistance, at worst should only hear it very quietly when held at your ear and pushed, but if at arms length should be quiet

That's what my brand new rears were like, but the fronts sound like there are some li'l bubbles in there or something...

They still feel absolutely fine though, so I want to be really sure they're duff before I complain to the guy I bought them from

Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 12:16 pm

They sound OK to me, as has been said, when pushed down, there should be good resistance, and shoud return fully (make sure you don't have to help it out fully).

Are they worth much then!?

I threw a pair of 5000km old ones out about a month ago!!

Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 12:23 pm

Simon wrote:They sound OK to me, as has been said, when pushed down, there should be good resistance, and shoud return fully (make sure you don't have to help it out fully).

Are they worth much then!?

I threw a pair of 5000km old ones out about a month ago!!

There's plenty of resistance & they return fine - it's just the fact that they're not silent like my new rears, that worried me...

Only paid Ãƒ”šÃ‚£20 for em but I'd rather have had your nearly new ones, ya plonker! :lol:

Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 12:26 pm

well, if the m3 man says they sound ok, then that'd do for me

Post Mon Dec 05, 2005 12:45 am

320Touring wrote:well, if the m3 man says they sound ok, then that'd do for me

Well I suppose he is a *reasonably* knowledgable kinda chap...

Is that the general consensus then; they'll be fine?

Post Mon Dec 05, 2005 9:14 am

Ziggy wrote:
320Touring wrote:well, if the m3 man says they sound ok, then that'd do for me
Well I suppose he is a *reasonably* knowledgable kinda chap...

Is that the general consensus then; they'll be fine?

I can't be that knowledgable...I threw my good ones away!! :lol:

They sound ok to me, they all make some noise when damping.

Post Mon Dec 05, 2005 12:22 pm

Simon wrote: I can't be that knowledgable...I threw my good ones away!!

They sound ok to me, they all make some noise when damping.

Cheers though; for that price I cannae really be ar$ed with the trouble of sending them back... As long as they *should* be ok for a while. Until I get another pair of struts & convert to coilovers anyway