failed front shocks?

[jesum]

i can hear the sounds of liquid sloshing about when i shake them, and i don't have to be too vigorous. also, they depress relatively easy (vs the rear shocks) with one hand (my wife could depress it). in contrast, the rear is very difficult to depress.

are these the signs of failed shocks on the front? i'm just curious since i've swapped them out for aftermarket units anyway. but it's good knowledge in case i come across them again.

[Blitzen]

Press down on the front... If it bounces back more than 1.5 times, the shocks are buggered...

[jesum]

1.5 times in length of the compressed state?

[Blitzen]

Sorry, I should have been clearer. 1.5 times from compressed to settled.

[jesum]

got it. thanks.

[kaanage]

Blitzen, I gather jesum has them out of the car so they can't be tested that way.

jesum, they sound like they're stuffed as they must have very little pressure in them.
Can you compress them quickly by just leaning on them? If so, they're stuffed as they should slow the compression a lot.

[jesum]

i think they're dead. the result of running mismatched springs for about 25k km!

[noone]

Ah yes, mine died quickly with H&R springs, after 10,000k's they were not holding up...

[kaanage]

I still think lowering spring sets alone are a bad idea. Cup kits are the minimum for proper setup (unless you get the dampers revalved to suit the higher spring rate and shorter stroke)

[jesum]

yes. i agree kaanage. just so you folks know, i could compress it with little effort by pressing on it with one hand while holding the shock with the other hand. no body weight involved.

it's quite appalling actually to think that i was driving around with this. no wonder the car felt like someone was constantly pushing it up and down around uneven corners. it felt floaty (and scary!).

[Blitzen]

That's unfortunate. I have been lucky enough that I haven't had any dramas with my stock shockies with aftermarket springs...

[blackbetty]

yes. i agree kaanage. just so you folks know, i could compress it with little effort by pressing on it with one hand while holding the shock with the other hand. no body weight involved.

it's quite appalling actually to think that i was driving around with this. no wonder the car felt like someone was constantly pushing it up and down around uneven corners. it felt floaty (and scary!).

yeah it has that charming nautical effect.....turning in any direction requires a sick bag

[kaanage]

Friggin dangerous too with the tyres loosing contact if the road ripples and speed combine to produce the resonant frequency of the unsprung assembly.