Twisted

Is it true that, when the shocks wear out on our cars, the ride gets firmer/harsher? I've heard people mention this before, but I've always thought that, as shocks wear out, the ride gets softer/bouncier. Any thoughts on this?

Black Snake

Wine was softer. They got more firm with a better shock.

nacanitihs

ya when they wear out you car is bouncier. like push down on it and if it bounce up and down alot then you need new shocks

r.barn

mine felt the same, but every bump was bone jarringly hard.

frop

More than 1.5 times.

Bad Karma

Negative.

When shocks fail it's becuase a seal internally leaks or breaks..

This would cause a bouncy "low rider hopping" effect.

The only way that a shock would become "stiffer" or "harsher" is if the fluid internally "froze" or "seized" (I've never seen it happen while being a Service Manager for 12 years) in the unit.

-Ivan

P Zero

On my friends '85 his front strut siezed, it wouldnt move at all. Thats the only one Ive ever seen do that, and like you Ivan Ive been working in the car industry for about 16 years now. Bouncing isnt a very good test at all. If your car bounces liek that it was probably bad WAY before it got that bad. When you look at a shock/strut, you want to look for a few things first off rust, if its very rusty chances are its probably very old and the dampening isnt up to factory spec anyway. Another thing to look for is leaks in the strut/shock itself, youll more than likly see it as a wetness on the body of the shock/strut.
-P.

Tman29

when i jacked my car up for the first time and let it back down, it stayed up. that is a true sign you need new shocks.

ooticamitica

yea mine makes a pot hole feel like ramping it :-p i try to avoid it as much as possible....

Twisted

Thanks folks. Well I guess my shocks are in great condition. They are very firm, and do not bounce at all. Just wanted to confim that information that I heard, because I had a feeling it was wrong. Thanks again.