Are my Shocks knackered?

Big Brother · Post by **Big Brother** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 4:53 pm

I know it is only the casing but now wonâ€™t dirt and mud cease it up or something? In the pics is my rear passenger side shock with the casing how I found it and then when I removed the sharp rusted bits of metal from around it. The driver side is badly cracked and rusted too

dragon · Post by **dragon** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 5:16 pm

Ouch!!!!!

Yeah, I'd say now was the time to consider changing those! To be honest, they are almost certainly the original shocks as it left the factory!

Big Brother · Post by **Big Brother** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 5:17 pm

guess its time for a change then, are they expensive?

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dragon · Post by **dragon** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 5:21 pm

Â£17.95 + VAT each from GSF seems to cover it mate.

JohnTurbo · Post by **JohnTurbo** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 5:34 pm

they could well be ok...no way to know without removal.

dragon · Post by **dragon** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 5:56 pm

You wouldn't want to run with them long term though, surely?

Mind you, no use asking for your opinion, John... you don't have a good
track record when it comes running with good condition shocks, do you?!??!

martinholmesuk · Post by **martinholmesuk** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 6:26 pm

Change them mate,

really easy job

I did it myself

that easy!!

that was before I knew anything about cars! I even managed to change my S starter motor on my own! Oh I have come along way! Learning so much from my helpful 480 friends!

Big Brother · Post by **Big Brother** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 7:11 pm

I did have a good look at the shocks when I had the wheel off and it look pretty easy to do so I am going to do it myself, Iâ€™m going to be very brave, I want a lolly pop and â€˜Very Braveâ€™ sticker when Iâ€™ve done it

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dragon · Post by **dragon** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 8:32 pm

Yeah, the rears are a doddle

Fronts would require a spring compressor though

Murf · Post by **Murf** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 8:48 pm

ive got a good set of sachs rear dampers that i took off to fit my bilsteins look pretty new if ya want em!

ICFM · Post by **ICFM** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 4:49 pm

Those photos could be off my car! Had the tracking done today, and whilst it was on the ramp had a good nose around underneath. Usual stuff, leaking sump plug blah-de-blah, but the rear shocks look identical to those above.

Bearing in mind one persons doddle is anothers whole weekend ruined, just how easy are they to fit? I was quoted Â£114 fitted.

Iain

Big Brother · Post by **Big Brother** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 4:57 pm

Iâ€™m the biggest scaredy cat in the world when it comes to doing jobs on the car myself but all it looked like was 1 bold on either end. I commonly assume that lots of parts are connected together so when you need to take off one part you have to take off loads of things but these seem pretty simple

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dragon · Post by **dragon** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 5:00 pm

That is indeed about the size of it. Your biggest worry is loosening the nuts, whiuch will be full of crud - personally, I'd wire brish the crud off, wang some easing oil at it at least 20 mins before you start properly. This is especially sound advice if you don't have good quality tools which might start eating a rusted nut, or if you don't have a good long braker bar to help you out!

480_rocket · Post by **480_rocket** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 9:04 pm

My shocks went like that on my old car. Just remember replace both rears at the same time.

Do get a decent socket that will fit it. It may be difficult to budge. If it's difficult to do leave it a few days, but put some of that easing oil on every day until you do it. Should make it a lot easier.

martinholmesuk · Post by **martinholmesuk** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 9:17 pm

Adam,

Get the shocks and bring them Satuday. I don't mind helping to change them.

Anyone know what sockets or spanners he needs?

JohnTurbo · Post by **JohnTurbo** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 9:32 pm

hehe. I like knackered shocks!!

Big Brother · Post by **Big Brother** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 9:52 pm

I've taken up Murf offer of 2 shocks but they won't be here in time for the meeting

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felyx · Post by **felyx** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 1:26 pm

They would probally stillpass an MOT as its only if they leak that they are a failure.

Tools required are one 17mm spanner and one 17mm socket and two Jacks one to jack the car up, and when refitting one to jack up the arm so the shock gets into place to do up the top bolt, you can install top or bottom last but i always do top last.

cheers Felyx .

p.s Bilsteins are Â£39.98 a pair from europarts i don't know if thats cos they give me trade price or not???

johnd · Post by **johnd** » Thu Mar 03, 2005 8:58 am

One of mine is like that but it is still ok. If you want to save some pennies, and assuming they are still alright, just cut the rusted bits off and slip some motorcross fork boots on. Actually a good tip when fitting new ones to prevent crud ingress. I think ill slip some on my new Monroe's, when they turn up.

As long as the bolts are free the job is a doddle.

John

dragon · Post by **dragon** » Thu Mar 03, 2005 12:31 pm

felyx wrote:They would probally stillpass an MOT as its only if they leak that they are a failure.

Unless they fail it for dangerous bodywork? Not sure where that particular area of MOT stops - whether it's just parts of the car that could come into contact with the public during normal use, or whether it takes the enire car into consideration (maybe to protect people who might work on your car)

Dunno, you'd need to check the regs - I posted a link some time ago, but I CBA finding it

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Are my Shocks knackered?

Are my Shocks knackered?

tools required

Re: tools required