When to change rear shock absorbers
Even if you check your vehicle regularly, chances are that rear shock absorbers won’t be on your maintenance list – and they’re often only inspected at the first signs of trouble. This could be when your car’s handling doesn’t feel right.
How long should rear shock absorbers last?
A quality pair should last for around five years, but a shock absorber's life is dependent on your style of driving, how often the car is used and how hard it is driven.
Rear shocks wear faster if the vehicle is frequently used to carry heavy loads, or multiple passengers in the back. Plus, the rate of wear will also be influenced by the state of the roads; surfaces riddled with craters, potholes and speed bumps will eventually lead to premature wear and possible failure of the shocks.
There are several signs that your rear shocks are worn or failing: you may find that the car is more susceptible to crosswinds or handles badly when cornering. You could experience bouncing or stiffness from your car’s suspension, braking performance can decrease, and uneven tyre wear can be evident.
While uneven tyre wear can be caused by other factors such as poor wheel alignment, it’s worth inspecting the condition of rear front shocks a couple of times a year – any signs of ‘misting’ (a slight oil leak from the shocks) is a sign that they’re on the way out.