Left Rear Shock leaking oil...

Generally best to replace in pairs.


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Murphys law…

I thought that replacing in pairs was best but with that low of mileage (and the cost of the shocks...!) I thought it might be OK to just do one and see if it beginsd leaking again at 62 K miles...! Thanks guys...!

There is a certain amount of shock leakage that is considered normal and acceptable. The images of what’s normal and what is cause for concern are online including in a few threads in this site. If it’s truly dripping on the floor then it’s a problem.

The stock shocks on these cars are almost all leaking on them 10+ years down the road.

The suspension system still seems to work well and I haven't noticed any difference in the ride or handling so maybe leaking a bit is OK until it's not...? Replace the shocks when they stop leaking (out of oil)...? Hmmmmm...

If they don’t seem bad, just drive it (make sure tires don’t get cupped).


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The problem with leakage is that it means the shock's internal seal has failed. That means the Nitrogen charge in the shock has mostly escaped and regular old air is getting mixed in. So while the shock will appear to work just fine if you bounce the car while it's parked, and it may not feel "wrong" on smooth road surfaces, but if you drive in a way that really starts to "work" the shock hard, it's not going to perform well. It'll run hotter because ambient air doesn't conduct heat as well as Nitrogen. And while Nitrogen doesn't dissolve well in the oil, plain old air does, so the shock's fluid will get foamy, and both these effects will significantly lower the viscosity of the fluid.

Also the loss of nitrogen charge will lower boiling point of the oil causing cavitation and fade and other issues but likely only an issue on a car that’s pushed hard .

The MR rear dampers on these cars seem to wear out about every 40k miles. Leaks are a way to tell. Or a harsh ride. Luckily, they are not difficult to replace. I purchased GM units and replaced mine in only 2 hours (and I work SLOWLY).

Rock Auto usually has the best deal.

Also, look really carefully to be sure it's not Dot 3 leaking back there(!)

Thanks to all of you for the good info and l will probably look at replacing either just that one or both rear shocks as I only have 30K on the odometer and I don't push it hard (usually)...! Probably should replace them in pairs for uniformity of ride, no...?

Vettewine said:

Thanks to all of you for the good info and l will probably look at replacing either just that one or both rear shocks as I only have 30K on the odometer and I don't push it hard (usually)...! Probably should replace them in pairs for uniformity of ride, no...?

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Pair. Do the pair unless the cost is just prohibitive.

Yeah, that's what I thought, too. And if the cost is prohibitive, then it's time to trade your "V" in for a "VW"...!