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Need some suspension advice on my '16 Z51, M7 with MRC, approaching 100K miles with 1500 track miles. My trusted service dealer says my right frt shock is leaking and should be replaced. Looks to me to be an oily film with road grit rather than a heavier grease I've seen on the internet. They did also find a very small coolant leak from block fitting to heater hose on same side. I'm thinking this could be the source of the oily film attracting dirt onto the shock body. See attached: Right side to be replaced? left side supposed to be OK?
To those with experience with MR shocks: Do either of these look to be leaking to you? and should i replace both?
I’d clean the shocks up, drive it for a bit, and see how they look after 100 miles.
bushings have some cracking but if you’re not hearing any noises then I think they’re fine.
Originally Posted by Citation
That amount of oil on the outside is normal. It does not indicate need for replacement. That said on mileage alone I would have changed them long ago.
I agree the amount of oil on the shock seems normal. How does the car ride and how does it perform when on track? The MRC shocks wear somewhat differently than standard shocks so I don't know if 100K miles is too long on them or not. I would go with the first suggestion, clean the shock, and drive the car and see how it acts. If the car passes a bounce test (with the engine running so shocks are powered) and drives well over bumps and heaves then don't spend the cash to replace them. MRC shocks dampening changes with the application of an electrical current from the suspension controller. Magnetic particles in the fluid react to the current and change the fluid viscosity thus changing dampening.
I am attaching the GM Service Bulletin sent to dealers to guide them on how much seepage is considered normal.
Good thoughts here. I cleaned off the shocks and will check in a week or so for leaks. The service bulletin Bill attached (thanks) indicates that I may be looking at normal seepage.
I have been noticing some front end noise while going over parking lot speed bumps. A kinda groan sound that i thought could just be the air damper under the bumper dragging across the speed bump. Or it could also be the bushings binding or the shocks as well.
I also had an impression that the front suspension was hitting pretty hard and loud striking manhole covers and other similar road imperfections.
Thought it could just be me being too ****.
Been a while since I was on track and don't get there often enough to develop any real sensitivity to subtle changes in handling/suspension.
At 100k miles, the left side of my brain tells me to just go ahead and replace shocks and bushings and call it good.
The more logical (frugal) right side supports eliminating the variables one at a time, starting with the Bushings.
Thank you all.
I'll update the thread as I go along.
Good thoughts here. I cleaned off the shocks and will check in a week or so for leaks. The service bulletin Bill attached (thanks) indicates that I may be looking at normal seepage.
I have been noticing some front end noise while going over parking lot speed bumps. A kinda groan sound that i thought could just be the air damper under the bumper dragging across the speed bump. Or it could also be the bushings binding or the shocks as well.
I also had an impression that the front suspension was hitting pretty hard and loud striking manhole covers and other similar road imperfections.
Thought it could just be me being too ****.
Been a while since I was on track and don't get there often enough to develop any real sensitivity to subtle changes in handling/suspension.
At 100k miles, the left side of my brain tells me to just go ahead and replace shocks and bushings and call it good.
The more logical (frugal) right side supports eliminating the variables one at a time, starting with the Bushings.
Thank you all.
I'll update the thread as I go along.
Some of the noises you’re describing are usually the end links between the sway bars and control arms. At 100k miles, those are the one thing I wouldn’t be surprised if they need replacing.
Some of the noises you’re describing are usually the end links between the sway bars and control arms. At 100k miles, those are the one thing I wouldn’t be surprised if they need replacing.
Gee, I forgot about the end links. I've done end links in several cars in the past. No big deal. I'll have to get under there again and see how difficult it might be in the Corvette. This could turn into a major project if I let it.
Fortunately, I'm committed to keeping this one stock so don't have to fret over choosing best sway bar/ end link upgrades, or which bushing material to use, or the best shocks and spring rates for coil-overs, etc. etc. etc. Been there, done that. Never again.
So, went back to service dealer and he confirmed right frt shock is leaking. Still doesn't look like it to me, but at 100k miles, I might as well replace both fronts.
I'd like to do this myself in my garage. Instructions in the DIY section are helpful, but I'd like to see a video to see how much room I have to work in and may not have to remove the bolts from the control arms as indicated. I might also replace the sway bar endlinks while under there just based on mileage.
I've found videos replacing the rears but none for the fronts.
Anybody come across any how to video for the front shocks?
My shocks don't look anywhere near as bad as the ones in the video.
Job looks very doable with my quickjack.
Since there is an electronic component to these shocks, I would consider disconnecting the negative battery terminal first, though nothing I've read mentions anything about this.
Is it just a given to always disconnect the battery first?
…I'd like to do this myself in my garage. Instructions in the DIY section are helpful, but I'd like to see a video to see how much room I have to work in and may not have to remove the bolts from the control arms as indicated. I might also replace the sway bar endlinks while under there just based on mileage.
I did both my front shocks recently. The first side I took the upper control arm bolts off according to the service manual and struggled to get it back on. The other side I just slid the shock through. Probably took 1/4 of the time. Yes, you should do the end-rod links. I did my rear about six months ago because of some clunking sound. Now I just ordered a pair of links for the front for the same noise.
BTW, Summit Racing has the shocks for way less than GM. I chose not to use Rock Auto since their customer service/tracking system is a bit iffy.
Well, I wimped out and had the dealer replace my front mag shocks.
I have no idea if you could upgrade to GS shocks, but I can tell you that I was quite surprised at how really noticeable the improvement in ride quality actually was. Probably should have done it 25,000 miles ago.
Time to replace MRC shocks?
