Has anyone had their rear shocks wear out quickly, like in less than a year?

My passenger-rear shock has had to be replaced less around 6 months after having it installed brand new. I could hear a nice *ka-chunk* over any bump. With the rear raised, oil would come out from wiggling it. Now I put another new one in, and I'm starting to hear similar noises out the rear end. I usually have it set on 1 or 2 , then on weekends I'll put it at 3 on back country roads; so I'm confident I'm not just bashing them to bits.

I'm thinking of switching to KYB Gas-A-Just (stiffer than GR-2).

 

**** I hope not....just put some in not too long ago. (less than 2000 miles)

 

No problem with mine. I have it on 2 cars, both with 150lbs springs in the back. What kind of springs are you running?

 

I've got Racing Beat springs on all four.

 

Main cause of shock failure is bottoming out, damages the internals. If it's only happening on 1 corner, you have a suspension problem there. Check the suspension parts for damage/failure points, pull both rear springs and compare heights between them.

 

yeah hopefully this is not a problem with them....i was planning on getting illumina's

 

How much can you safely cut out of the bump stops?

 

1/2", no more than 3/4" has worked for my Illuminas so far.

 

Never had a problem with my Illuminas, and I was also running the RB rear springs. Strange...

 

How close is your exhaust to the shock? Could you be over heating the shock?

 

Now that's a very interesting point and may explain the why for the right rear corner only. Perhaps some heat shielding in is order.

 

It's the driver side that's now making noise.


Come to think of it, back in May I ran over a really nasty cattle guard. It must've done more damage to the other shock that I replaced, and now this one is more noticeable.

 

Are you sure that it is the shocks that are making the noise? Could be a missing spring isolator (rubber ring) or maybe worn trailing arm bushings, etc. Just can't believe that you can be having so many issues with these shocks after never hearing of even a single issue from anyone before now. Very strange...

 

The links are OLD, but they don't wiggle when I yank on them from under the car. I got new isolators when I had the springs installed.

I just jacked up each side, I can raise the driver's side wheel with my palms, but the other side (replaced shock) doesn't budge much.

 

I have come to the conclusion it's just your car is broken. That's why it only happens to you.

Actually i was wondering about the exhaust till the post that cleared it up. How much is the car lowered in the rear?

 

that is a interesting point.