Can shock absorbers be repaired?
Discussion
IAmTheWalrus said:
Thanks for the responses guys. Do you know if the car can be driven without shocks for the duration if I find a refurbishment company?
No, it would be all over the place.Depending how poor the present shocks are you might be able to carry on for a while with the existing parts in place, could be worth following your car down normal roads and see how bad the excess bouncing really is.
This is why i suggested getting some used parts, if you can, so the refurber has something to work on whilst yopu stay on the road.
It might be the case this is the first time anyone in refurb world has tried to work on your particular shockers, so could be some time for them sourcing or making parts etc.
My quick search led me to a US Volvo parts place that appeared to offer your shockers @ $369 or so but by the time you've paid shipping and then import charges they'll probably be up to the UK rip off cost, and until you physically offered them up under the car you could never be 100% certain they were the right ones, in which case a nightmare trying to return them.
Thinking laterally, for the time being i wonder if those rubber balls that people used to put inside springs as spring assisters might offer some additional damping effect, obviously this would depend on the springs not being part of a strut with the strut inside the spring.
If this worked, and i submit its only a suggestion off the top of my head, it might give you time to find the right low mileage write off with good used shockers.
Smint said:
IAmTheWalrus said:
Thanks for the responses guys. Do you know if the car can be driven without shocks for the duration if I find a refurbishment company?
No, it would be all over the place.Depending how poor the present shocks are you might be able to carry on for a while with the existing parts in place, could be worth following your car down normal roads and see how bad the excess bouncing really is.
This is why i suggested getting some used parts, if you can, so the refurber has something to work on whilst yopu stay on the road.
It might be the case this is the first time anyone in refurb world has tried to work on your particular shockers, so could be some time for them sourcing or making parts etc.
My quick search led me to a US Volvo parts place that appeared to offer your shockers @ $369 or so but by the time you've paid shipping and then import charges they'll probably be up to the UK rip off cost, and until you physically offered them up under the car you could never be 100% certain they were the right ones, in which case a nightmare trying to return them.
Thinking laterally, for the time being i wonder if those rubber balls that people used to put inside springs as spring assisters might offer some additional damping effect, obviously this would depend on the springs not being part of a strut with the strut inside the spring.
If this worked, and i submit its only a suggestion off the top of my head, it might give you time to find the right low mileage write off with good used shockers.
thanks.
PS I'm complaining to Volvo that a car worth £3800 which is only that high because of the pandemic, now has an issue that according to their price range costs £1300 for them to fix and asking them to look for cheaper ways to do so, do I have a leg to stand on? I am not original owner. The cars done 140,000 miles but I was told BMW only consider their cars good for 100,000 miles officially, that's their idea of lifetime use FFS. Ironic because their service schedule was replace the head gasket at 100,000 miles.
PSS I was told this type of setup has some special lowered suspension so apparently even if according to a parts guy who has been surprisingly helpful (even though he's clearly not making a sale)and knowledgeable if possible to use standard parts would like end up costing as much as a new pair.
IAmTheWalrus said:
What rubber balls? Shocks is all new to me.
thanks.
PS I'm complaining to Volvo that a car worth £3800 which is only that high because of the pandemic, now has an issue that according to their price range costs £1300 for them to fix and asking them to look for cheaper ways to do so, do I have a leg to stand on? I am not original owner. The cars done 140,000 miles but I was told BMW only consider their cars good for 100,000 miles officially, that's their idea of lifetime use FFS. Ironic because their service schedule was replace the head gasket at 100,000 miles.
PSS I was told this type of setup has some special lowered suspension so apparently even if according to a parts guy who has been surprisingly helpful (even though he's clearly not making a sale)and knowledgeable if possible to use standard parts would like end up costing as much as a new pair.
Seriously? You are going to complain to Volvo? About what?? I think I've heard it all on here now. You have a 12 year old car that's been around the world multiple times and an item that wears out with use has worn out after 12 years? What the car is worth these days is completely irrelevant. thanks.
PS I'm complaining to Volvo that a car worth £3800 which is only that high because of the pandemic, now has an issue that according to their price range costs £1300 for them to fix and asking them to look for cheaper ways to do so, do I have a leg to stand on? I am not original owner. The cars done 140,000 miles but I was told BMW only consider their cars good for 100,000 miles officially, that's their idea of lifetime use FFS. Ironic because their service schedule was replace the head gasket at 100,000 miles.
PSS I was told this type of setup has some special lowered suspension so apparently even if according to a parts guy who has been surprisingly helpful (even though he's clearly not making a sale)and knowledgeable if possible to use standard parts would like end up costing as much as a new pair.
Parts are expensive for a car that was expensive back when it was new shocker (pardon the pun). If the car is in good condition and well looked after, and you plan to keep it a while longer, I wouldn't hesitate to have the proper shocks put on, even at £1300.
If the car is a shed and you only have shed money to spend, it's time to sell it as is and buy another shed that fits within your budget to run.
PS I'm speechless that you would even ask if a car could be driven without shocks. Jesus f
king Christ. IAmTheWalrus said:
PS I'm complaining to Volvo that a car worth £3800 which is only that high because of the pandemic, now has an issue that according to their price range costs £1300 for them to fix and asking them to look for cheaper ways to do so, do I have a leg to stand on?
You have got to be kidding.You bought a car that probably cost £40k+ new. It comes with £40k+ car bills when things break.
To be clear, you should feel embarrassed for even considering having a moan at Volvo for that.
InitialDave said:
IAmTheWalrus said:
PS I'm complaining to Volvo that a car worth £3800 which is only that high because of the pandemic, now has an issue that according to their price range costs £1300 for them to fix and asking them to look for cheaper ways to do so, do I have a leg to stand on?
You have got to be kidding.You bought a car that probably cost £40k+ new. It comes with £40k+ car bills when things break.
To be clear, you should feel embarrassed for even considering having a moan at Volvo for that.
The 'feature' of the self levelling system is not remotely worth the price difference to normal ones. This is outright poor design plain and simple.
Camelot1971 said:
Seriously? You are going to complain to Volvo? About what?? I think I've heard it all on here now. You have a 12 year old car that's been around the world multiple times and an item that wears out with use has worn out after 12 years? What the car is worth these days is completely irrelevant.
Parts are expensive for a car that was expensive back when it was new shocker (pardon the pun). If the car is in good condition and well looked after, and you plan to keep it a while longer, I wouldn't hesitate to have the proper shocks put on, even at £1300.
If the car is a shed and you only have shed money to spend, it's time to sell it as is and buy another shed that fits within your budget to run.
PS I'm speechless that you would even ask if a car could be driven without shocks. Jesus fking Christ.
I don't want the car I bought it in a haste but I don't feel its ethical to sell in this state. Why not ask if a car is driveable without shocks, this is a forum for people to LEARN FROM.. Parts are expensive for a car that was expensive back when it was new shocker (pardon the pun). If the car is in good condition and well looked after, and you plan to keep it a while longer, I wouldn't hesitate to have the proper shocks put on, even at £1300.
If the car is a shed and you only have shed money to spend, it's time to sell it as is and buy another shed that fits within your budget to run.
PS I'm speechless that you would even ask if a car could be driven without shocks. Jesus f
king Christ. IAmTheWalrus said:
InitialDave said:
IAmTheWalrus said:
PS I'm complaining to Volvo that a car worth £3800 which is only that high because of the pandemic, now has an issue that according to their price range costs £1300 for them to fix and asking them to look for cheaper ways to do so, do I have a leg to stand on?
You have got to be kidding.You bought a car that probably cost £40k+ new. It comes with £40k+ car bills when things break.
To be clear, you should feel embarrassed for even considering having a moan at Volvo for that.
The 'feature' of the self levelling system is not remotely worth the price difference to normal ones. This is outright poor design plain and simple.
Dampers wear out, complex dampers with additional features that you may not even need cost more.
The benefit of these self levellers is that softer springs can be used, because the self leveller will pump themselves back up to standard ride height after a short distance travelled you don't need stronger stiffer springs offering a harsh ride when lightly loaded.
Downside is if you are going to swap back to standard cheaper dampers as the car ages then going to need the correct springs to suit.
To be fair you usually find them on estate cars, and then usually the higher spec versions (even have them on our Forester XT, and if and when they fail a kit is available to revert to standard, because OE self levellers only), i haven't come across them on a saloon before though luxury saloons are not my thing but would expect to more likely find air suspension of some sort.
At least your design of self leveller is simple, fit new units and forget, if you had air suspension the airpump alone might be up to £1000, MB struts were well over £1000 apiece years ago (with welded in bottom ball joint for the win), plus various height sensors and all running through the car's muitiple ECU's, you can easily spend £3k+ fixing an air suspension problem.
If you had hydraulic suspension such as older Citroens and Landcruiser 100/200 you have the additional worry of corroding fluid lines plus spheres that fail and a hydraulic pump to worry about, plus more sensors than you could shake a stick at.
In all honesty if you have to buy new and DIY fit them, in comparison to other luxury cars you won't have done too badly.
Downside is if you are going to swap back to standard cheaper dampers as the car ages then going to need the correct springs to suit.
To be fair you usually find them on estate cars, and then usually the higher spec versions (even have them on our Forester XT, and if and when they fail a kit is available to revert to standard, because OE self levellers only), i haven't come across them on a saloon before though luxury saloons are not my thing but would expect to more likely find air suspension of some sort.
At least your design of self leveller is simple, fit new units and forget, if you had air suspension the airpump alone might be up to £1000, MB struts were well over £1000 apiece years ago (with welded in bottom ball joint for the win), plus various height sensors and all running through the car's muitiple ECU's, you can easily spend £3k+ fixing an air suspension problem.
If you had hydraulic suspension such as older Citroens and Landcruiser 100/200 you have the additional worry of corroding fluid lines plus spheres that fail and a hydraulic pump to worry about, plus more sensors than you could shake a stick at.
In all honesty if you have to buy new and DIY fit them, in comparison to other luxury cars you won't have done too badly.
ok well I am hoping I can find a place to repair. I found one company but they only do antique cars. I wonder if the manufacturer itself would have a service? I know they like to sell them, but what happens if someone buys a new car, finds the shocks are gone, they surely don't just toss em and replace with new ones?
IAmTheWalrus said:
if someone buys a new car, finds the shocks are gone, they surely don't just toss em and replace with new ones?
That is literally exactly what happens.Do the shocks even have an OE manufacturer info beyond "Volvo" anyway?
The vast majority of the time they aren't cost effective to refurbish anyway.
IAmTheWalrus said:
ok well I am hoping I can find a place to repair. I found one company but they only do antique cars. I wonder if the manufacturer itself would have a service? I know they like to sell them, but what happens if someone buys a new car, finds the shocks are gone, they surely don't just toss em and replace with new ones?
That'll be 'warranty'.paintman said:
IAmTheWalrus said:
ok well I am hoping I can find a place to repair. I found one company but they only do antique cars. I wonder if the manufacturer itself would have a service? I know they like to sell them, but what happens if someone buys a new car, finds the shocks are gone, they surely don't just toss em and replace with new ones?
That'll be 'warranty'.
IAmTheWalrus said:
paintman said:
IAmTheWalrus said:
ok well I am hoping I can find a place to repair. I found one company but they only do antique cars. I wonder if the manufacturer itself would have a service? I know they like to sell them, but what happens if someone buys a new car, finds the shocks are gone, they surely don't just toss em and replace with new ones?
That'll be 'warranty'.Car manufacturers don't fix things they replace parts.
When the car is under warranty broken/worn out parts are replaced by the manufacturers agents, these are normally called main dealers.
When a car reaches the end of its warranty period, which is normally just a few years, it is a case of "you pay your money, you take your choice & buyer beware".
At this point if you need spare parts to fix a problem, you HOPE someone else has seen a market & makes a replacement, otherwise you need to have your leg lifted by the manufacturer & HOPE they still have spare stock.
If they don't, then you/others either need to re-engineer a solution or scrap the car. The choice is yours.
To be honest i'd be wary of letting someone loose on your existing shockers unless they've successfully refurbished similar self levellers before, that is unless you have a spare set from a written off (hopefully lower mileage) suitable donor car and send the worse of the two pairs for potential refurb.
If they prove impossible to reseal whilst under considerable gas pressure effectively after being worked on then they're only fit for the skip, and if its the only set you have then you've spent possibly several weeks with an undriveable car and still have no choice but to buy new.
If twer me, i'd be underneath closely examining the existing for any details on the parts, then measuring accurately and taking myrid photgraphs, possibly even nip one off for precise measuring/photgraphing, also checking the other side in case the parts have left/right fittings, then search worldwide for the most economic solution new...in the meantime doing all i could to find suitable used parts, i've found almost brand new self levellers fitted to scrappers for two of my cars in the past, no reason why you shouldn't have the same luck.
If they prove impossible to reseal whilst under considerable gas pressure effectively after being worked on then they're only fit for the skip, and if its the only set you have then you've spent possibly several weeks with an undriveable car and still have no choice but to buy new.
If twer me, i'd be underneath closely examining the existing for any details on the parts, then measuring accurately and taking myrid photgraphs, possibly even nip one off for precise measuring/photgraphing, also checking the other side in case the parts have left/right fittings, then search worldwide for the most economic solution new...in the meantime doing all i could to find suitable used parts, i've found almost brand new self levellers fitted to scrappers for two of my cars in the past, no reason why you shouldn't have the same luck.
Smint said:
If twer me, i'd be underneath closely examining the existing for any details on the parts, then measuring accurately and taking myriad photographs, possibly even nip one off for precise measuring/photographing, also checking the other side in case the parts have left/right fittings, then search worldwide for the most economic solution new...in the meantime doing all i could to find suitable used parts, i've found almost brand new self levellers fitted to scrappers for two of my cars in the past, no reason why you shouldn't have the same luck.
^^^^ Wot 'e said.I would also be hunting under scrapped similar models with more lowly suspension to look for possible cross-over parts to replace with.
"They" say they can't be replaced with standard but, I'll bet they can, even if it also means cannibalising the old shocks to fudge the original system healthy with a linked out plug/socket or something.
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