What causes shock absorber leakage?
In a working shock absorber, the body always remains sealed. This tightness is ensured by a special seal — the oil seal, located between the body and the rod. It is this that prevents oil from leaking out. However, the oil seal cannot be called an absolutely airtight element, so a very small, barely noticeable oil leak is still possible.
It is worth noting that many car owners often mistake a misted shock absorber for a leaking one.
Now let's look at the main causes of oil leakage.
- Suspension overload. For example, the driver did not notice a pothole in time and hit it — and this already becomes the cause of a leak. The fact is that the working fluid does not have time to pass through the valves in the piston, and the oil begins to seep through the least protected areas of the body — the oil seal and sealing gaskets.
- Oil seal wear. This happens with high mileage. Over time, the seal simply wears out and deteriorates. As a result, oil begins to escape much more actively, and after a while the shock absorber loses its damping properties and stops absorbing vibrations.
- Rod corrosion. The appearance of scoring on the rod damages the oil seal, and then leakage of both oil and gas begins.
Is it permissible to operate a car with a leaking shock absorber?
In short — no. When driving on such a shock absorber, even a small road irregularity will immediately make itself known: the body will noticeably sway, the car will handle corners worse, and the braking distance will increase.
Moreover, using a car with faulty shock absorbers can lead to the failure of other suspension components. Therefore, if you find oil smudges, you should immediately take measures — replace the shock absorber or send it for repair.
If you are not entirely sure that the shock absorbers are leaking, but you feel that the car is swaying while driving, it makes sense to have them diagnosed.
Can a leaking shock absorber be restored?
When the question of replacement arises, many drivers first look at a new shock absorber, but often refuse to buy it. The reason is simple — the price. The cost of a new shock absorber significantly hits the budget, especially when it comes to adaptive models or shock absorbers with electronic adjustment. In such cases, restoration becomes a reasonable solution. Restoration will cost 40-50% less than buying a new unit. In our service AIRSUS, we undertake shock absorber repairs of any complexity and offer a full range of services — from diagnostics to shock absorber installation.
