how car one tell when shocks absobers of the car need replacement?

Answer 1

The bounce test that everyone above keeps describing is not a scientifically valid way to test whether or not shocks/struts need replacing. Reputable shops stoped using that technique 30 years ago.

Motorist Assurance Program (MAP) guidelines recommend replacing shocks and/or struts every 50k miles. Much beyond that and braking and roadholding performance can drop off measurably - but not in a way you will notice in a "bounce test".

http://www.motorist.org/news/consnews/MapinImportAuto.pdf

ASE Certified Automotive Service Advisor

Answer 2

There are a couple of quick checks you can do, first visually examine the shocks when still on the car. Look for any oil leaking from the top of the shocks. If there is any its time to change them.
The second method is the bounce check, standing at one corner of the car press down on the car a couple of times to cause the car to bounce. After getting it to move up and down remove your hand and the car should bounce once then return to the normal height. If it does not and bounces for a couple of times then again it is time to replace them.
The third and last way to check them it to remove the shock from the car and after extending the shock fully, press the shock shaft back in to the shock body, then pull the shaft back out again. If the shock is OK you should feel the same force both directions.
Some times on cars like the Peugeot 306 the problem lies with the torsion bars and not the shocks.
Good luck

Answer 3

Depends on the car.

If it is a Peugeot or Citroën, only replace if damaged in an accident, and only ever replace with genuine PSA-Peugeot-Citroën parts - they are built in-house, designed to last the life of the vehicle, and are a different internal design to those sold as replacements by non-dealers.

For most other cars, they should be replaced when they stop functioning properly (the bounce test described by other answerers is a crude way to tell, the test used by MOT testing stations is a more accurate way of telling). Generally the car's ride will become more "bouncy" when the dampers fail - the car takes longer to recover (stop bouncing) from shock inputs such as a speed-hump.

Answer 4

leaking around the shock tube is a sure sign of a damaged shock. Tire bouncing when you drive on the freeway is another sign. When stopped, push down on a fender, if the car bounces more than 2 bumps, consider changing the shocks. The car will almost feel new again after changing the shocks.

Answer 5

There are several ways to tell, as mentioned already the bumper test, also to make sure have someone follow you on the road, preferably from the side or back and ask them to tell you if after hitting bumps or uneven areas of the road if your car seems to keep bobbing up and down after it hits bumps. Also are your braking distances getting longer or does the ride seem really out of control on bumps or corners? Get them replaced soon if they are bad, you're asking for trouble riding around with bad shocks,.

Answer 6

push down hard on a corner of the car and let it bounce back, if it bounces more than one and a half times you need new shocks.do this for all four corners, and always replace shocks in pairs (both fronts or both rears).

Answer 7

If you are noticing a very bumpy ride then it is a good sign that your shocks are going out. Generally it should be about time to replace them by 75,000 miles. Though this depends heavily on your driving style.

Answer 8

Push down on the corner of the car it should bounce up then down and settle if it bounces more then they need replacing.

Answer 9

When you brake and the front end of the car dips forward. That's also a common symptom.

Answer 10

If you jump up and down on the bumper it bounces back down instead of just returning to level.