When to change shock absorbers?

[Siyexcalibur]

My poor car cross about 50 speed humps a day, excluding speed regulating strips. This type of usage, how long can the shock absorbers last? Can last 10 years? I tried bouncing the car, but the suspension is too firm, I can hardly move it. My wife ill treat the car by crossing the humps at up to 60 km/h.

[Hamburger]

dampers r made to work....why heart pain over tis kind of thing . u shld b happy as u r making full use of it.

[Siyexcalibur]

No heart pain, but sometimes creaking sound is heard when crossing humps. Dont know if it is time to change the absorber. Have to save money first.

[Darkblue]

Inspect fortnightly, look at the springs of your car

 

Use a torch, if you see there is oil leaking on to your springs... means can go change immediately liao...

[Hamburger]

Ummm, sure sounds like a beginning to worn dampers. . Look at e bright side, got gd excuse to upgrade to a firmer one

[Jlim]

Absorber last ten years very difficult lah.

 

Another sign of worn absorber is eneven wear of your tire.

[Pisces69]

The common method to test shocks is to use your hand to push down hard on each corner of your car & let go quickly. If the car bounces more than once, the shocks might need replacing.

 

Another is to send to a reliable & trusted mech as they r more experienced in checking for u.

[Dwoon]

You will know.... one day when you start to get car sick.

[Siyexcalibur]

I tried to push the car down, can hardly moved it.

My mech says shock dont need to change. I supposed the car can still be driven if the shocks are worn down.

[Porche]

another sympton will be when braking, there is a ge ge sound

[Pisces69]

When u go over those humps, does the car keep bouncing?

 

Do u feel the handling sloppy going around fast corners?

 

When u brake, does the front dive very low?

 

All these r signs of worn shocks.

 

If your mech checked & say its OK, he sud know then.

[Pisces69]

U mean like creaking? That also cud b symptom.

 

Creaking cud also b the bushings need some lube or change.

[Porche]

i just change my rear ones last mth....

[Dwoon]

Hey... you just described all the symptoms I have. But I just changed all 4 shocks couple of months ago.

 

When u go over those humps, does the car keep bouncing?

 

Do u feel the handling sloppy going around fast corners?

 

When u brake, does the front dive very low?

 

All these r signs of worn shocks.

 

If your mech checked & say its OK, he sud know then.

[Pisces69]

Yours is SUV right?

 

Like that is normal to have all those symptoms.

 

U wil need new shocks when they get worse or unbearable.

 

Or maybe they gave u defective shocks?

[Pisces69]

Ask the shop to check the springs. Sometimes they place a strip of rubber on the top & bottom of the springs to prevent metal to metal contact.

 

Maybe they took them out or not placed properly when they changed your shocks.

[Fcw75]

No way shock absorbers can last 10 years. The springs yes.

 

For your reference:

 

http://www.kyb.com.my/handy.html

[Blue850r]

Japanese car's shocks can easily last more than 100,000 kms. However, they wear out slowly through the years so can can't feel that it is bad, until it is very bad. You can feel the car bounce up and down after a hump. Not much damping.