I'm starting to think that all the shock absorbers on my car may need replacing. We think the car was probably a taxi and it came with no service history so I've no reason to think they've ever been done, but at 13 years and 193,000 miles old I don't want to put brand new ones on because the value of the car doesn't justify the outlay.

 

I've heard of people buying a set of used ones from a lower mileage car on ebay and fitting them, saving loads of cash. Is this a good way to do things? What should I check for before buying?

I'd buy new ones nif I was you. You could buy second hand ones and 5 miles later they could go.

But if you do check to see if there's any leaking and when you compress them there stiff still.

Key question is the cost of labour - I would argue against paying anyone to fit 2nd hand parts but if you can do it yourself, why not ?

If you then find you need to do it again in a year, you haven't lost much (if the parts were cheap) and it will be easier 2nd time around.

If your car passes a straight MOT with the shocks it has then I wouldn't bother at all, I would NEVER fit secondhand shocks, it's like fitting a secondhand clutch, it's simply retarded because the outlay is in the effort of the labour rather than the parts cost.

A set of Monroe ones should be somewhere near £100 + labour (30 - 45 mins for the rear axle, about 90 mins for the front axle). The worst part when it comes of shock absorbers (IMHO) is that they will not wear evenly. Usually, one of them is  more knackered than another. Put this on two axles and you get yourself in trouble when steering at motorway speeds.This is why you get an unstable car when cornering or braking. Been there, done that, it was feeling like a rolling death trap. I really wouldn't like to experience this ever. For city driving it is ok-ish, but not for cruising.

You don't need to buy high end - expensive parts. Budget shocks (new) are way better than old, worn out ones, just make sure you replace the struts&bearings as well. They should last about 5 years without any problems. In theory, only once in a few years you work the suspension, so it should be ok. I'd also check (and adjust if required) the wheel alignment angles. 

Edited 3 September, 201510 yr by Alexandru