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I was investigating a leak in my washer fluid tank. It seems the shock rod came up and took a bite out of it.
When I raised the car I could see that the boot had been driven down the shaft.
Has anyone ever seen this? I am aware that shocks wear out internally, but this is a new one on me.
This is a Bilstein heavy duty shock. It's been on the car for about 25,000 miles.
Just recently, I noticed some bump sounds and extra shake going over manhole covers and the like.
Did I ride it too long, or am I correct in thinking this should not happen on a street driven car?
I've changed quite a few shocks in my days and I can honestly say I've never seen that before. Did the bottom retainer actually give out and that's why it's extending so far up?
I've changed quite a few shocks in my days and I can honestly say I've never seen that before. Did the bottom retainer actually give out and that's why it's extending so far up?
In a word, yes.
In the first pic, I have the car jacked up and the suspension is hanging. The shock is extended as it you would expect, but the boot is not up against the top mounting point where it should be. The polished shaft has been driven through it. The joint between the shaft and the boot has failed. With the car on its wheels, the shaft extends upward as seen in the second pic.
I have submitted a warranty request and I will be talking to the vendor I purchased the shocks from today. I also hope to remove the shock and see if I can compress it at all.
I'm curious about the cause. Did the shock go stiff (internal failure), or did I do something wrong? I had the car up on the Quickjack for a couple of weeks this spring doing fluid changes. Maybe that was a bad thing.
I’m not seeing the bottom cup washer in your first photo…..
It would look exactly like the top cup washer but upside down.
Maybe I’m blind…..
The washer is fused into the black plastic boot. The rust there is just surface; there is no loss of metal.
The parts line up as shown below. There is a tiny bump in the shaft between the thread and polished sections. It seems flimsy, but it held for 12 years. The shock on the other front corner is still okay.
Last edited by Rich Silvestris; Jul 11, 2023 at 07:37 AM.
Is your car lowered? I’m wondering if maybe the shock bottomed internally and became the downward suspension stop.
The car is lowered 3/8" on the stock bolts. It's just enough to make the wheels concentric to the wheel opening.
(When I first saw it at stock height I thought it was jacked up!)
Anyway, I reported that on the warranty claim form. We'll see if they jump on it.
Bilstein Shock Failure (?)
