.............1.3 petrol. Right lets get one think straight, my Knowledge of car's is check oil/water and blow up tyres . I have noticed that the N/S/F suspention/shocker [ the bit with the large thick spring attatched at the top under the wheel arch ] is covered in a quite thick oil like fluid. So " is it leaking, does it need replacing " or is it " OK ". I have pushed the car up and down and the suspention seems quite firm, just like the Off side. On the worst case how much are they to replace and do i need to replace both near side and off side . ........The off side one is dry as a bone.............Ta!!

If it's definitely leaking that badly from the shocker eventually it will fail and the ride will get very bouncy + it will fail the MOT. (However, I believe the oil in shocks is quite light and not thick, but suppose once mixed with road dirt it may look thick as it does now).

It's best for handling if both are replaced (according to Mr Haynes, can't imagine it makes much odds myself), but as the one has already failed you might be simply delaying the inevitable by not replacing it.

If it's leaking it's an MOT fail. Change them both; it does make a difference (and you get better emergency braking too, honestly).

TBH the shockers are known for rusting their cups anyway, so replacement of both fronts is no bad thing. Think about 1.5hrs for the pair, and £70 the pair + fitting.

Bilstein / Shock Absorbers 'Original Equipment' (Front) / SKODA FELICIA I (6U1) 1.3 10/94 > 03/98 (54 BHP) / Euro Performance Car Parts

mmmmmmmm....looks like Pinky needs new ones then...........:( Thanks to all

Yeah, better braking and nicer ride. Fit upgrade ones (I've got Monroe, er, Sensatrac or something, whatever their top gas strut model is) and you get a _much_ nicer ride, especially at motorway speeds - the car just feels much more anchored to the road.

Shocks do wear out on any car. Manufacturers recommend replacement at 20,000 miles - 'well they would, wouldn't they' - but by 50,000 most shocks have pretty much had it, especially if you ever put the pedal to the metal.

I'd clean all the oil off with a car wash solution then take the car for a drive and give it another clean.

Then give it a few days of your normal driving and if they are not oily then the oil might have come from an external source. If they are oily they they are dead.