"Modern Shocks Don't Wear Out" - Fact or Fiction?

[TroubledSoul]

So, a fellow PH'er recently told me that modern shocks don't wear out, and don't need replacing until they actually fail. Is there any truth to this or is it a misguided statement?

I'm very sceptical, and can't believe a 100k set of shocks will be as good as brand new. I'd like to know if anybody can shed any factual light on this? If it is indeed true, then happy days!

[kambites]

Fiction. The dampers on my Elise are definitely the worse for wear but still fundamentally work.

[The Nur]

Is this bloke normally a reputable source of information?

[Crusoe]

Guess it would depend on the materials used. A state of the art metal in oil electromechanical damper probably never wears out and only needs replaced when the oil leaks out or some other component fails.

[kambites]

Maybe he meant that the electronic rubbish fails so often that they don't have a chance to wear out?

[Papa Hotel]

Fiction.

[TA14]

TroubledSoul said:

So, a fellow PH'er recently told me that modern shocks don't wear out, and don't need replacing until they actually fail.

How do they fail if they don't wear out? A beautiful thought though.

[TroubledSoul]

The Nur said:

Is this bloke normally a reputable source of information?

Welshbeef told me...

[Papa Hotel]

TroubledSoul said:

Welshbeef told me...

And he had it from Gwagon111.

[Crow555]

My nearly 7 year old Ibiza run around is on 48500 miles and the suspension knocks and squeaks like crazy. I'm going to get it looked at but I'm not sure if it's just SEAT build quality, my driving style or the uneven roads where I live.

[g3org3y]

Papa Hotel said:

TroubledSoul said:

Welshbeef told me...

And he had it from Gwagon111.

[bqf]

Reminds me of the time that a Hotel waiter once told me 'white wine never goes off'.

It was in Germany though.

[pad58]

Papa Hotel said:

TroubledSoul said:

Welshbeef told me...

And he had it from Gwagon111.

And he was talking to Airbreaks (Matt777)

[smele]

Our 300K Peugeot 406 is still on original shocks.

I think what was meant, that in the old days, shocks would wear out, become all bouncy, but these days they don't go bouncy, they just start leaking, which is a failure.

Certainly several of our Audi's have only got near to 100K before the shocks start leaking, but then they are probably driven a lot harder than the 406.

[Spangles]

They work by squeezing oil through small holes. In much the same way as car oil, shock oil is being degraded by this action. Various manufacturers recommend change at 50k miles. Whether you'll notice the difference is hard to say.

[PhillipM]

Was there a large bull with it's tail up nearby at the time?

[jimbobsimmonds]

Mine on my S60 were definitely knackered and were not leaking...

[Dog Star]

I think it's hard to tell these days - cars are so stiffly sprung and heavy.

[jamieduff1981]

They most definately deteriorate with use. I also think most people would be shocked at how much of a difference new shocks and bushes make on their car with some milage under its' belt.

[rallycross]

in the old days oil filled shocks would leak and completely stop working, hence floaty bouncy old bangers, if you changed to new shocks it transformed the car. its not like that now, new tec' lasts much longer, eg my bmw 335 is close to 190k on original suspension and it drives very well, I would say the suspension feels exactly the same as my 50k mile 335 which I recently sold. Obviously a new car would feel much tighter but at nearly 200k miles the shocks are performing well - so high quality shocks will last a huge mileage.