How to determine if front shocks need replacing?

[StudioWizard]

How do I tell if the front shocks on a 2005 2.5si need replacing? A mechanic recently told me mine are shot and then he pushed down on the car to demonstrate... which didn't demonstrate anything to me. I just bought the car recently, so I don't really know what it should feel like.

Any suggestions?

It seems like with every car I've ever owned, mechanics are always willing to suggest replacing the shocks. Maybe it's coincidence in my case that they always DID need replacing, but I'm curious what the forum wisdom has to say about it.

Bonus points for recommending OEM vs aftermarket shocks and why....

 

[bigwinn]

You’ll never truly know until you get the old ones off

I did the front shocks on a 54 plate today and they were on their last legs, albeit there was some damping

Although it’s been removed from the mot, a good old bounce test should indicate if they are doing what they should?

Get the car bouncing and it should settle to equilibrium within 1 1/2 bounces

 

[StudioWizard]

OK, I'll give that a try and see what happens.

 

[Rldee007]

I was told my shocks were fine after my MOT, didn't appear to bounce off. Took them off and I could compress them quite easily and they took ages compared to the new ones to return to extended length .

I believe sometimes shocks can leak.

 

[patriot66]

I replaced all my original Sachs shocks back in March 2018 at 73k miles. My car is '03, so it was 15 years old at the time. Three of the shocks offered absolutely no resistance to compression by hand and did not spring back at all when released...no pressure left in them at all. The fourth was barely much better.
Your '05 car is now 18 years old and if it is still on its original Sachs like mine was, with similar or higher mileage; then I would suggest they are probably well past their best also.
I replaced mine with Bilstein B4 all round which have now covered 27k miles and have been excellent

 

[StudioWizard]

I have no idea if/when they were last replaced, if ever. haha The car has 160k miles on it, so if never replaced, then for sure they need to be.

I'll check into the Bilstein B4 shocks.

 

[Rockhopper]

The bounce test is no longer part of the MOT. As long as they are not leaking oil and are not excessively rusty they will pass. But, if they are over 50,000 miles old then they will be knackered!
If you are doing the fronts then order new bottom pinch bolts (and soak the ones on there in PlusGas every day for a week before trying to get them out). Ideally you'll need a floor mounted spring compressor. Change the top mounts as well and the springs if they look rusty. Rears are easy to do with no special tools.
New shocks/structs will transform the car.

 

[smorris_12]

They took the bounce test out of the MOT because it's almost impossible to push down a lot of cars without bending the wing as suspension has got a lot stiffer over the years.

I went to try the X5 the other week and the damn thing didn't move a millimetre.

 

[StudioWizard]

The bounce test is no longer part of the MOT. As long as they are not leaking oil and are not excessively rusty they will pass. But, if they are over 50,000 miles old then they will be knackered!
If you are doing the fronts then order new bottom pinch bolts (and soak the ones on there in PlusGas every day for a week before trying to get them out). Ideally you'll need a floor mounted spring compressor. Change the top mounts as well and the springs if they look rusty. Rears are easy to do with no special tools.
New shocks/structs will transform the car.

Great info! Thanks!