Shock oil or brake fliud, am not sure.?

Question

I drive a 1998 hyundai elantra 1.6GLS. I recently noticed an oil leak from the left front wheel. I use chrome mags so the trapped dust and dirt were clearly visible on the rims typical of oil fluids. When removing the wheel i noticed the oil had splashed all over the disc. I assumed it could be a break fliud leak but had my doubts coz i couldnt trace any ruptured brake fluid pipe and the brake fliud had not gone down much in the top up container. now the thing that gets me wondering is that the leak has stopped and the brake fliud is still present in the container. The car does brake normally so am wondering if the oil was from the shock absorber coz its been making some funny thumping sounds when i go over even the slightest of bumps. I knew my shocks were needing a replacement but is that so bad that a shock would leak coz i heard that worn shocks can sometimes leak if they are totally f****d up. Are my suspicions right?

Answer 1

Push down HARD on the fender of your car.. on the suspected BAD side. Your car should bounce upwards Immediately and stop. It should be difficult to push down on the car's body.
Now try the other side. Is there a noticeable difference? You have one bad shock.
Push down on some other Hyundais. You'll see.
Drive your car 60 mph on a straightroad. Do you have to correct the steering often? (shock or ball joint = tie rod end)
Hold the wheel lightly in your hands and keep driving fast. does your car slowly drift to that "bad" side? Your shock is not forcing the tires downwards fast enough after the slightest bump. In a split second, your car tilts a little toward the "bad" shock.
Good luck. Replace both shocks as the other one won't be far behind in wearing out.
Do it soon and replace / clean with brake cleaner spray...your brake rotor (disc).

Answer 2

It could be either the shock absorber or brake fluid but if as you say, you have checked the level of fluid, then that really rules it out as you would definitely notice the level going down, On to the shock, have a good look where the piston rod slides into the cylinder seal. This is basically inside the spring so again you will definitely see a leak. Have you looked at the outer CV joint boot, this is the joint inside a rubber boot at the outer end of of the driveshaft. The rubber boot is supposed to be filled with grease but the grease turns to an oily substance when it gets old. If the boot cracks or splits, this causes this oily substance to be thrown onto the inside of a wheel rim and also all over whatever else it gets near to. Have some one move the steering from left to right whilst looking at the boot to see if there is anything visible. It will be noticeable.

Answer 3

Could be the shocks-notice anything odd about the ride of your car? Take a look also at the axle boots-they may have been torn and axle grease is escaping gradually through the rent in the boot (your car a front wheel drive, I presume?).

Answer 4

on the front of your car you have struts not shocks same idea though struts have a spring around them under a load do not take apart if you don't know what you are doing! If they are leaking you will see oil on the strut body which is what your front hub hooks to what you are most likely seeing is grease splatter from a lower ball-joint going bad your thumping sound or your hub bearing

Answer 5

Yeah that sounds like a shock absorber has seen better days.

Answer 6

Yep sounds like your shock absorber has bought the farm

Answer 7

I couldn't agree more, well done Trevor

Answer 8

sounds like its the shocks....

-N

Answer 9

you have answerd your own question.