How long do shock absorbers typically last

Do you see fluid usually brown in color leaking down onto the bottom part of the shock or strut? While you might have a leak elsewhere that is splashing on the shock, this has a different look to it.

This fluid leak should come straight down and not have a splash of fluid on one side only. Ask them to clean it off with a rag and drive home. If it is leaking, you will see it again within a few miles. One way to check is to push or stand on the bumper and bounce up and down a few times, then hop off be careful not to fall! The car should bounce once more then stop. An old-fashioned way to check for this is for you or someone else to drive the vehicle while you follow behind.

So, how long do shock absorbers last? The regular numbers are either 5 years or 50, miles. But, it can be more or less depending on the conditions of the roads. The same rule is applicable to the strut assemblies. Once the shocks and struts start wearing out, they hit the rock-bottom pretty fast. The seals around their joints begin to wear off and the liquid or gas inside them leaks. Beware of these signs as they warn you about failing shocks and struts:. Driving Tips. Maintenance Tips.

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We notice you're using an ad blocker. Please consider allowing Autoblog. How well do they hold up to the weather, and what are you doing to maintain them? Pretty much the same holds true for the longevity of your vehicle's shock absorbers. Remember, whether you use gas-charged and conventional shocks, these devices deliver improved handling and a smoother ride by converting the kinetic energy of suspension movement during the drive into heat energy that dissipates through the hydraulic fluid in the shocks.

Like the walls of an embattled city, there's only so much energy these shocks can absorb before they finally succumb. As kinetic energy wears shocks down, it follows that more suspension movement has a negative effect on shock absorber life expectancy.

If your morning commute consists of a smooth, unobstructed drive across level countryside, then your vehicle is probably enduring a minimum of suspension movement. Throw in some curves or a little stop-and-go traffic, and you have a lot more movement and kinetic energy slamming through those shocks.

From there, gravel, hills and other road conditions only add to the stress on your vehicle's shocks, potentially subtracting from the typical 50,mile life expectancy. Even your style of driving and specific wheel and tire modifications can have an impact. In addition to suspension movement, regional weather conditions and road contaminants can also take a toll on your vehicle's shock absorbers.

After all, these are external mechanisms and regular drives through saltwater, sand or rough gravel roads can further wear your shocks down with abrasions or rust. If you just drive the car to church on weekends, then this may all sound like great news -- not so much if you fill your Saturdays with muddy exertions into the wilderness.

Luckily, you can take several steps to help maintain your defenses against all the road can throw at you. The most important step in car shocks maintenance is simply to remember that your car has them to begin with. You can tell a great deal about their performance by simply feeling your car's suspension as you drive. Motor Trend magazine also suggests taking your vehicle out to a secluded parking lot, accelerating to 10 miles per hour 16 kilometers per hour and hitting the brakes.

If the front of the vehicle keeps bobbling after you come to a stop, then your shocks are likely shot [source: Motor Trend ]. When you're not on the road, you can get a closer peek by getting on your hands and knees and looking at these ride-softening little gadgets. If you see dents in the shock tubes, leaking oil though a slight oil film over the lower portion of the shocks is OK , then chances are you're in the market for some new shocks.

You should also keep an eye out for loose mounting bolts and worn mounting blushing, which may also result in a rattling noise while you're driving. Your shock absorbers need a firm mounting to work properly, so you might have to replace loose bolts and blushings.