Imagine a situation where you are enjoying a comfortable long drive on a pleasant sunny day. Everything’s under control and you are having a great time. Suddenly, you feel a strong bump that just ruins the comfort quotient of your drive. Disappointment and stress hit hard during such times. Therefore, to avoid such a situation, you must keep a regular check on the shock absorbers of your car. Usually, modern cars are equipped with at least one shock absorber for each wheel. These shock absorbers are also referred to as shocks or struts.
The shocks of your car function with the help of pistons. These pistons move up and down through thick oil to convert mechanical energy into thermal energy. Consequently, a stopping force is initiated in the wheel to which the piston is attached. This process absorbs the bounce of the car after a bump. Therefore, the shocks are a vital element of your car. If you have a question like why are my shocks leaking frequently? This indicates that the hydraulic fluid of the shocks is spilling out.
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Why Are My Shocks Leaking?
A faulty shock is easily observable. The drive feels bumpier and the car acts faulty on a rough road. A vehicle equipped with leaking shocks will continue to bounce up and down after every single bump. Shock absorbers are usually made of a cylinder filled with fluid. Additionally, the cylinders comprise pistons that move constantly in a vertical motion. A leaky shock acts improperly because it runs low on hydraulic fluid.
1. Wear And Tear Over Time
Shocks are amongst the most exposed components of your vehicle. Usually, shocks are structured to serve their purpose for several years. Constant pressure and weight on the shock absorbers make them prone to mechanical damage. The shocks in your vehicle are protected by a seal. Consequently, this seal starts acting faulty and breaks. Once this happens, the shock might experience a leak. Driving conditions and handling of your car are among the factors that describe the life of a shock absorber. The user manual might specify a particular time interval for changing the shocks. However, that is just a tentative deadline. The shocks can start leaking much earlier or they can last even longer than the specified interval.
2. Accidents And Crashes
The shocks are positioned near the tires of your car. Furthermore, they are responsible to absorb the energy that is generated by a bump. During an accident or crash, the shock absorbers are the lifesavers. They feel a large amount of pressure and weight upon them. Any accident involving the suspension of your car can damage the shocks to a considerable level. A rock or any other obstacle might hit the shock absorbers and they start leaking hence the shocks of your car must be checked for a leak after a crash or accident.
3. Damaged Piston Rod
A damaged piston road can be a potential cause of a leak. Pistons are structured in a way that they need to be held with pliers when they are being installed. Failing this structural process of installation leads to damage or fault in the piston rod of your car. A rough piston rod continues to move up and down in a rhythmic motion. Consequently, the seal is damaged and the oil leaks out of the shocks.
4. Damaged Chrome Coating
A chrome coating surrounds the piston rod. Leakage is prominent when this coating is worn out. The chrome coating is a feature to ensure the smooth functioning of the piston rod. However, when this coating wears out, the seal might experience a rough hit from the piston. Consequently, the oil leaks out of the cylinder and you are left wondering that why are my shocks leaking oil.
How To Fix Leaking Shocks?
After diagnosing a leak in the shocks, you must seek reliable professional help to fix the leak. Faulty shocks not only degrade the overall driving experience of your car but also hamper the cost-effectiveness. A car equipped with leaking shocks requires frequent oil refills to ensure that the bounce after the bumps can be avoided. Therefore, you must repair or replace the shocks of your car on priority.
1. Repairing The Piston Rod
The piston rod can get rough after its chrome coating degrades. A damaged piston rod hits the seal of the shocks with tremendous force and the seal breaks. Replacing the piston rod is a viable solution in such a case. The new piston rod ensures that the vertical movement of the piston is carried out effectively. Once the shock absorbers are equipped with a completely perfect piston, the oil leakage is controlled.
2. Replacing The Shocks
The shocks are a vital element of your car. Therefore, compromising on their functionality is not a smart thing to do. A skilled mechanic will always tell you that a leaking shock absorber must be replaced. You might wonder that why are my shocks leaking? I must get them repaired. However, repairing the shocks is a temporary solution to the problem. The shocks are usually damaged as a result of external pressure and damage. Now, repairing such an amount of mechanical damage is a complex thing to do. Replacing the shocks helps in upgrading the overall driving experience. The oil leakage is controlled and you have a completely new shock absorber system.
Expected Cost Of Replacement?
If the diagnosed problem requires a replacement of the shocks, you must do it as soon as possible. The approximate cost of a single shock absorber is around $60 to $150. This cost varies between different car brands.
Replacing the shocks is a tiresome process hence the labor costs are a bit higher. The average labor cost for replacing the shocks can be expected to be something between $150 to $350. You must ensure that the mechanic holds the required skill set to perform this complex replacement process.
Conclusion
No one would prefer a bumpy drive. Shocks have a limited life but careful driving can increase this interval. You must ensure that you prevent your car from unnecessary bumps and hits. The suspension system of your car functions smoothly if the car is run with care. You must check the shocks regularly. This helps in diagnosing the problem at an earlier stage and avoiding a major problem in the future.
Stay safe and keep driving.
Thank you