We've all seen the television reports. They always seem to feature an unscrupulous tech caught by a hidden camera squirting oil on a perfectly good shock or strut. He then recommends replacement of the "leaking" component, and the hapless motorist is stuck with an unexpected-and unwarranted-repair bill.

Perhaps this is why you may be reluctant to recommend shock or strut replacement to your customers. Better to say nothing than to risk getting tarred with the same brush, even when ride control repairs are needed. This may also help to explain why sales in this category have been steadily declining for several years

Other factors may be at work as well. When tires become worn, the vehicle owner can see it. When brakes wear out, he can hear it. Customer awareness of shock and strut wear, on the other hand, is very low. With no visual or audible cues, the average vehicle owner can remain completely unaware of shock or strut wear or other suspension problems for weeks, months or even years. He will continue to assume everything is fine, until told differently by a professional.

Your customers may ask how many miles or years shocks and struts are supposed to last. Back in "the old days," when shocks retailed for as little as $10 apiece, it wasn't unusual to see OE shocks that were worn out and leaking after as few as 20,000 miles. Manufacturing quality has improved considerably since then, and the OE shocks and struts may never leak. Does that mean they never wear out and need to be replaced? Of course not.

The amount of work they do (converting suspension motion to heat) varies with road conditions, which makes it difficult to say exactly how many miles a shock or strut will last. Unlike a tire, which rotates a specific number of times per mile, a shock absorber or strut may compress and extend several times per mile on a smooth road, or several hundred times per mile on a very rough road. Other factors that affect the life of a shock or strut are weather conditions, amount and type of road contaminants, driving habits, loading of the vehicle, tire/wheel modifications and the general mechanical condition of the suspension and tires.

By the time they've reached 50,000 miles, even the best shocks and struts have lost an appreciable amount of their original performance. They may not be leaking externally, but internal wear and leakage past worn piston seals will degrade performance. This happens gradually, so the vehicle owner may not be aware its occurred.

The shocks and struts, along with the rest of the suspension system, should be inspected and tested at least once a year or 12,000 miles. Begin the shock/strut test with the car on the ground, not while it's supported on a jack or hoist. Bounce the car at each corner and release. If it bounces more than 1 ½ times after you stop, take a closer look at the shocks or struts.

During the bounce test, keep an eye on the top strut mounts. They allow the strut to pivot as the wheels are turned. They must be flexible enough to handle slight angle changes and dampen movement of the upper end of the strut. Any noise or excessive movement here can indicate the need for parts replacement.

Raise the car on a hoist. Run your hand over the tire tread all the way around, then from the inside to the outside. A cupped tire wear pattern is typically caused by worn steering/suspension components or by worn shocks/ struts. Worn suspension components like ball joints, control arm bushings or wheel bearings usually produce random cupping patterns. Worn shocks or struts will generally leave a repeating cupping pattern. This type of wear indicates the shocks or struts are not keeping the tires in contact with the road over bumps and other road irregularities.

Continue your inspection by looking for broken mounts, damaged bushings or oil on the shock/strut barrel. If possible, grab the shock and shake it firmly. This may reveal hidden damage to a mount or bushing. Evidence of fluid on the outside of the housing indicates a leaking seal. The fluid can't be replaced, and shocks/struts are ineffective without it. Replacement is the only option.

Shocks and struts should always be installed in pairs. Since all shocks and stints on a vehicle are exposed to roughly the same amount of wear and abuse, replacement of all four makes even more sense when one wears out.

Some customers may balk at the cost of the job and ask what will happen if they postpone the work. Shocks and struts are responsible for maintaining tire contact with the road. They also reduce weight transfer among the wheels during braking and turning, and keep other suspension parts and tires from wearing out prematurely. Remind customers that worn shocks and struts jeopardize the ability to stop, steer and maintain stability, which could result in much more costly problems down the road.

Source: Motor.com

 

Nice writeup man. I didn't think you were the type for whatever reason but I was wrong.

 

hey no taunting, you'll get enough bashing chance in the Rumble.

 

where you will get pwned by meh

 

Sorry I'll stop flaming outside of the Rumble