Should shock absorbers really be done in pairs?

[Tasmin200]

Tony1963 said:

I probably would too, but if someone else chose not to, for good reasons, I wouldn’t criticise them.

Neither would I, and I didn't. I don't really give a st one way or the other, it's not my car. But the OP asked others for an opinion.

[Tony1963]

And Internet forums are great for opinions!

[wyson]

I replaced just one shock on the rear of my car. The other one started weeping oil a couple of thousand miles later.

So I think it depends. If its fair wear and tear, because your car has done 80k miles on them, I would replace the pair.

If its a new set of shocks and one went after 10k miles because of a manufacturing defect or you hit a curb etc., I would just replace the broken one.

Edited by wyson on Monday 2nd August 17:13

[cdrick4]

I ordered Bilstein shocks from 4wheelonline to replace the fronts because I already have a lot of hard miles on them and the left one is already leaking oil.

[Tony1963]

cdrick4 said:

I ordered Bilstein shocks from 4wheelonline to replace the fronts because I already have a lot of hard miles on them and the left one is already leaking oil.

Meaningless. So what?

[mmm-five]

Tony1963 said:

Meaningless. So what?

It's either a bot or a spammer, as their posts tend to include a link to 4wheelsonline (a US company) - whether it's for tires, wheels or suspension...doesn't seem to realise most of the questions are from European users.

[bmwmike]

My 5 series needed a new shock on the rear and when I was paying for it, Sytner said they had to be replaced in pairs. When it turned out the warranty would cover it, only one side needed doing. I checked on bmwtis (bmw technical bulletin thingy) and it said under 50k single is fine, over 50k miles should be replaced as a pair. My mileage was 49k but sytner could only book an appointment for after my holiday, which as it happened was in france and we were taking the car. Got the pair changed after all. ha.