How long do stock shocks last?

[TNurburgring]

I own an '08 MX-5 with about 37.000 miles on it. It has Eibach Pro-kit lowering springs installed. These were on the car when I bought the car, so they could be installed when the car was bought new (I am not sure). Should I worry about replacing the shocks soon?

[VladD]

I think my 1994 Eunos is still on the original shocks, but I couldn't guarantee that.

[HorneyMX5]

Until they are broken.

Age, mileage and type of use all effect their lifespan. If they're not leaking then they should be all good. My 06 sport is on 62,000 miles and the original dampers and they work perfectly.

[Beati Dogu]

My 2002 Sport has the original suspension and has done 98k miles. The springs are fine, but I think the front shocks are getting a bit tired now. I'll look to replace them as my next job.

[RenesisEvo]

I've just replaced the Bilstein shocks on my Mk3 2.0 Sport, which has just past 120k. Found an equivalent set on eBay from a Mk3.5 that had done just 10k. Massive improvement across the board, the body control and compliance is a league better than it was. It wasn't horrendous before hand, but clearly the dampers had seen better days. The ride and handling has also been helped by sorting out many knackered bushes - these are just as likely to give you wayward handling. Not a cheap exercise in the end, the results are subtle but profound.

[TNurburgring]

Thanks for the replies! I didn't know shocks last that long. No reason to worry for me, because my shocks are still "young".

[OverSteery]

HorneyMX5 said:

Until they are broken.

Age, mileage and type of use all effect their lifespan. If they're not leaking then they should be all good. My 06 sport is on 62,000 miles and the original dampers and they work perfectly.

I beg to differ, the performance of a shock can deteriorate significantly without a leak developing. After prolonged use the oil in the shock will loose viscosity, ie become thinner, and will have less resistance to movement.

If you have stiffened springs then standard shocks will tend to be under damped anyway.

[snotrag]

Yes, as above. I've done the work to prove it, making 'gambles' on changing shocks that ostensibly seem fine.


At 62k miles for example, a definite improvement woulkd be felt by changing to new dampers.

A dampers performances is compromised long before it fails an MOT / bounce test.

I replaced the ~ 70k mile dampers on my Mk2 with new, OEM fit (KYB I think). The ones that came off looked fine - zero clues that anything was wrong.

The difference was remarkable.

[carspath]

my 1993 134,000 mile , 1 previous owner car is still on its original springs and dampers

it has a full geo done regularly , and is my daily driver , and I enjoy driving it more than just about any other car that I own
it is truly wonderful

I also have a very low mileage 1991 (1 st of the 8 hole long nose engines ) mx5, which is the beaulieu national motor museum reference example
this car has had replacement rear springs !!
for some reason my 134,000 mile car feels more solid , and is nicer to drive !!!

[Beati Dogu]

snotrag said:

Yes, as above. I've done the work to prove it, making 'gambles' on changing shocks that ostensibly seem fine.


At 62k miles for example, a definite improvement woulkd be felt by changing to new dampers.

A dampers performances is compromised long before it fails an MOT / bounce test.

I replaced the ~ 70k mile dampers on my Mk2 with new, OEM fit (KYB I think). The ones that came off looked fine - zero clues that anything was wrong.

The difference was remarkable.

Did you change the springs too, or the rubber bushings while you were at it?

I'm thinking of maybe doing mine when I change the dampers.

[RenesisEvo]

Beati Dogu said:

Did you change the springs too, or the rubber bushings while you were at it?

I'm thinking of maybe doing mine when I change the dampers.

Definitely do bushes. It was the key reason why my car was all over the place under braking. Not a cheap exercise, but it significantly restored my confidence under braking.

[greenarrow]

RenesisEvo said:

Beati Dogu said:

Did you change the springs too, or the rubber bushings while you were at it?

I'm thinking of maybe doing mine when I change the dampers.

Definitely do bushes. It was the key reason why my car was all over the place under braking. Not a cheap exercise, but it significantly restored my confidence under braking.

Yep I'd agree. Those little bits of rubber make quite a difference. I have some looseness on my Mk2 and it affects how the rear of the car reacts. I had the lower arm bushes on my Mazda6 done last year and was impressed with the difference it made.

[Beati Dogu]

OK thanks. I figured I might as well do them when the thing is in bits.

I'll paint up the suspension arms while I'm at it too.

[kuro]

I picked up a v spec last week and drove it ten miles home and stuck it in the garage and that was it. Yesterday I noticed a load of oil over the rear suspension arm below the damper which wasn't there when I checked the car over. The car also had a fresh mot prior to me collecting it and had no advisories. I thought shocks deteriorate slowly but this seems to have failed suddenly. Can this happen or did I and the mot tester miss it?

[RenesisEvo]

kuro said:

I picked up a v spec last week and drove it ten miles home and stuck it in the garage and that was it. Yesterday I noticed a load of oil over the rear suspension arm below the damper which wasn't there when I checked the car over. The car also had a fresh mot prior to me collecting it and had no advisories. I thought shocks deteriorate slowly but this seems to have failed suddenly. Can this happen or did I and the mot tester miss it?

The slow deterioration in damper performance stems from gradual degradation of the oil in the damper. Oil getting outside the damper is a mechanical failure, which can happen 'suddenly' as a crack propagates due to fatigue, or shock. Had the car been sat around long before collection? It's hard to see how you could have missed it, you might just have been very unlucky.

[kuro]

RenesisEvo said:

The slow deterioration in damper performance stems from gradual degradation of the oil in the damper. Oil getting outside the damper is a mechanical failure, which can happen 'suddenly' as a crack propagates due to fatigue, or shock. Had the car been sat around long before collection? It's hard to see how you could have missed it, you might just have been very unlucky.

I think the car had been standing for a while but I had the car up on ramps to thoroughly check the underside and there was no sign of oil in that area. I guess it's just one of those things and fortunately with these cars it won't cost the earth to put right.

[snotrag]

Have a look on eurocarparts etc for kyb or Sachs "oem" type shocks. Long time since I've looked but should be less than £100 a corner.

[MX-5 Lazza]

I'd go for Meisters. Remember you will need another £100 more or less for alignment after fitting whatever you choose.