How to Repair a Shock Absorber
- Disassembly. Remove the shock absorber. Take it apart to assess the extent of damage and wear. Check these components: bushings, seals, piston, and mounting.
- Cleaning the Components. Cleaneverypartand set it apart to dry. They will be easier to inspect for damage as well as work with.
- Replacing Faulty Components. Check for damaged components. Those are the parts you will be replacing. ...
- Shock Absorber Assembly. Thisis the shockabsorberrebuilding part. Assemble every part correctly, taking care not to damage some components.
- Testing and Adjusting. After putting together the shock absorber, it is now time to test it. Apply force to one end and observe the response.
How to tell if your shock absorbers need replacing?
What Are the Signs that My Vehicle Needs New Shocks or Struts?
- Bumpy ride. The most obvious sign of a problem with your shocks or struts is that your car is giving you a much more uncomfortable ride than normal.
- Steering problems. Another telltale sign of a shock or strut problem is difficulty steering. ...
- Braking problems. ...
- Fluid leaks. ...
- Unusual tire tread wear. ...
- Mileage. ...
Why do you need to replace shock absorbers?
- Vibration or rough ride
- Shock absorber is leaking fluid
- Uneven tyre wear
- Nose diving on braking
- Car rocking on cornering or in high wind
- Longer braking time
- Damaged shock absorber
- Bottoming out on road
How much does it cost to replace shock absorbers?
Standard Shocks: A standard Shock Absorber Replacement will cost $70. McPherson Strut Shocks: A McPherson Strut Shock Absorber Replacement will cost $170. These costs include GST and are for replacing both sides. We always recommend replacing both sides at the same time. Parts will cost extra – usually between $50 and $150.
How often should you replace your shock absorbers?
- Tires, especially if the tires have worn unevenly
- Brakes, especially if braking causes poor car body control response
- Suspension bushings (may require shock removal anyway)
- Springs (may require shock removal anyway)
Is it possible to repair a shock absorber?
Not every shock absorber problems can be repaired. Parts that you can replace individually include mounts, shock absorber bushings, seals, piston, and compression oil. As a rule of thumb, you should only consider shock absorber repair if the existing shocks have not done more than 35 000 miles or slightly more.
How much does it cost to fix a broken shock absorber?
The replacement cost of a bad shock absorber will be a minimum of $200 and a maximum of about $400. These estimates include both the labor costs and parts costs. The labor cost is anywhere from $150 to $200, while the parts cost is anywhere from $50 to $200.
How do I know if my shock absorber is broken?
This is why, in this article, show you the main symptoms of worn out shock absorbers.Nose-diving whilst braking. ... Increased stopping distances. ... Fluid leaks. ... Suspension & steering vibrations. ... Uneven tyre wear.
What causes shock absorber failure?
Dirt roads When travelling on dirt roads a lot of dust is generated in the air. These sand particles get into the seals of your shocks, damaging them and causing the fluid inside to leak out.
Can I drive with a broken shock?
Can I drive with a damaged shock absorber? Yes. Although it won't be a comfortable journey. A broken shock absorber will result in your car bouncing around, as well as excessive rolling, squatting and diving.
Is it OK to drive with leaking shocks?
Struts can fail for a number of reasons such as road conditions and where a vehicle is driven. Driving on bad struts is a safety hazard. If you have a car with damaged or leaking struts, they should be replaced as soon as possible.
How do I test my shock absorbers?
0:051:52How to - Checking Shock Absorbers // Supercheap Auto - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou need to replace the shock. Absorbers. If the shock absorbers are performing well the car willMoreYou need to replace the shock. Absorbers. If the shock absorbers are performing well the car will rebound. Only once and then slowly return to its original. Position.
How do I test my car shock absorbers?
0:251:56How To Check Your Shock Absorbers - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCheck your shock absorbers for leaking oil broken or corroded mountains warm bushes or corrosionMoreCheck your shock absorbers for leaking oil broken or corroded mountains warm bushes or corrosion carefully check for a snapped coil spring check the level of the vehicle.
What does a broken shock sound like?
Unusual noises – When shocks and struts are worn out you may hear a clunking or knocking sound. This sound is caused by metal-to-metal contact when the shock or strut bottoms out when hitting a bump.
How do I know if my shocks are bad?
The Warning Signs Of Worn Shocks And StrutsInstability at highway speeds. ... Vehicle “tips” to one side in turns. ... The front end dives more than expected during hard braking. ... Rear-end squat during acceleration. ... Tires bouncing excessively. ... Unusual tire wear. ... Leaking fluid on the exterior of shocks or struts.
How do I know if I need new shocks?
One way to test the condition of the shocks and struts of your car is to push down hard on each corner of a vehicle. If the vehicle continues to bounce after you let go, your shocks need replacing.
How long do shock absorbers last?
If you're city-based and drive carefully all the time on well-maintained, perfectly smooth tar roads, your shocks could last up to 10 years. But for those of us who may hit potholes from time to time and drive on dirt roads now and then, expect to get around 5 years from your shock absorbers.
How much does it cost to fix rear shock absorbers?
Shock Absorber Replacement Cost Since shock absorbers should always be replaced in pairs, expect to pay somewhere around $250 to $580 in total. A single shock absorber will cost anywhere from $50 to $140, depending on the make and model of your vehicle so for the pair, you're looking at $100 to $280 in parts.
How much does it cost to replace all 4 shocks?
How Much Does It Cost to Replace All Four Shocks? The cost of replacing all four shocks will vary depending on the make and model of your car. In general, you can expect to pay between $400 and $800 for the parts and labor. However, if you have a luxury car or SUV, the cost could be as high as $1500.
How much does it cost to replace rear shock absorbers?
Replacing rear shocks will typically cost between $1,000 and $1,150. Unfortunately, those looking for a deal have very little wriggle room when it comes to this replacement. The parts for rear shock replacements cost roughly $900, while the labor costs for replacing rear shocks are typically around $200.
Should I replace all 4 shocks at the same time?
Shocks and struts should always be replaced in pairs (front axle or rear axle), and it's even better to replace the shocks/struts on all four wheels at one time. This helps maintain reliable handling and a consistent response on both sides of the vehicle.
What To Do If The Faults Aren’t Fixed Yet?
Also, if the case is severe and not repairable, then you need to change the shock absorber. If you desire so, make sure you buy one of the best shock absorbers available in the market. Cheap shock absorbers may fit in your car but will not be a value for money. Most of us don’t want to invest some extra bucks on aftermarket products. This might affect you severely than you think because most of the parts are interconnected with each other. If you are putting cheap quality products inside your car, it might even damage the good parts along with itself. Also, you should regularly check and maintain your vehicle for shock absorber faults. This might help you to prevent severe damage in the shock absorber.
What to do if your shock absorber doesn't look good?
If you found any parts that don’t look well, you need to fix it. Sometimes it is worth changing that specific part. You don’t have to change the whole shock absorber in that case. If there is a problem with a specific part, you can easily replace it. Parts are available in the market. If there is a leak in your shock absorber, you can always use leak fix aftermarket products to fix the leak temporarily—no need to change any parts which don’t show any signs of wear.
How to disassemble a shock absorber?
You should have all the disassembling kit with you before beginning the process. Use car jacks to lift the car. Then unmount every part that requires to disassemble the shock absorber.
What happens if you see fluid in shock absorber?
Fluid Leaks: If you see oils or fluids in the shock absorber body, the chances are high that your shock absorber has a leak or cracked somewhere. This leak can be easily repaired with the right knowledge and repairing the product.
What happens if you lose control of your car?
Losing Control: If you feel you are losing control of your car while taking a turn, you might have a faulty shock absorber and need to be fixed promptly.
Why is my car not braking?
Braking Efficiency Reduced: If your car is taking a long time to brake, this might cause a faulty shock absorber. Your tire needs to settle down to the road surface to make a brake. But if your shock absorber is broken, your tire will not be able to attach to the surface. This will reduce the braking efficiency of your car.
How to tell if shock absorber is bad?
Feel the Bump: If you are feeling almost all bumps on the road, which generally doesn’t happen ( if you are riding on the same street), then you can tell that your shock absorber is in a bad situation. Consider repairing the absorber if it has run less than 35 000 miles.
What to do if your shock absorber is not repairable?
If you find that your car shock absorber is not repairable, purchase the good quality Bilstein or Monroe shock absorbers according to your vehicle model.
How long does a shock absorber last?
Usually, the age of shock absorbers is several years long. They can cover more than 50 thousand miles. Eventually, they start to wear out, which results in leakage. You must follow the instructions of the manufacturing company to know when shock absorber replacement should be done. It’s better to replace before facing the problem of leakage.
Why does my shock absorber leak?
Due to an accident crash or maybe due to some other heavy impact on the shock absorber, the piston bents down. In such a situation, the shock absorber fails to move correctly. This ultimately leads to shock absorber leaking.
Why do my shocks leak?
The pistons and oil storage have complete sealing to protect them. Due to the collection of dirt, and abrasion during the ride , the seal starts to deteriorate over time. This results in leaking shocks.
Is it cost effective to replace a shock absorber?
● Cost-Effective : Replacement of shock absorber is expensive as you travel to the marketplace and buy a completely new shock absorber. However, the repair is cost-effective because you are going to use older parts that become perfect for use after correction.
