Mrs G82's car (Mazda 2) had MOT yesterday. Informed that n/s/f shock needs replacing at ~£300 inc labour. A touch spendy if you ask me. Then it occurred to me that it hadn't long had at least one front shock recently. Dug out the paperwork and the same garage 'replaced' both front shocks last year. Car has done 3k since as we use mine for long journeys. 

 

Assuming the shock is genuinely gone would this be covered under warranty considering it's just shy of a year and just over 3k miles since the last one?

 

No discussion on whether the garage is pulling a fast one please. Take it that the parts were changed last year and they are really shot.

 

Ta.

Who manufactured the dampers and who sold them and what warranty do they have and is it poor manufacturing or material defects or external / environmental issues.

ie Speed Humps that has caused the failure.

 

You need to speak to the boss at the garage that sourced and fitted the dampers.  & Look at the Warranty T&C's on the parts.

 

 

 

Don't know if this is a typical shock absorber guarantee/warranty?

 

Quote

https://www.progressivesuspension.com/c/warranty-shock-absorber-limited-warranty

 

3k miles is a lot less than you would expect from a shock absorber, so at first glance it would seem there is good grounds to suspect faulty materials and/or workmanship.

Garage is closed on Sundays. Will be calling them first thing.

We do have quite a few speed bumps in our estate but wife isn't a rally driver and never launches off them. Though difficult to prove to garage.

As for make/model of the shock I have no idea. Basic cheapo part I expect. Part number on the new quote is the same as last year and circa 50%more cost. I'm all for price increases but this is a bit much. Have a list of thing I wish to 'discuss' with them. Added to that thanks to the mighty brisky crew 

The garage is taking the pith. Did your wife drive it to the MOT?

 

Mots no longer carry out a push down test on shockers, havent for decades. Only thing they look for is a serious leak, light misting of the shocker is acceptable.

 

Go to a quick fit type place, ask them to inspect all shocks, they'll do it FOC. Ask to look for yourself. If you agree its gone, ask for a quote, probably will say around £80 per shocker. Go and tell the garage you demand a free replacement under warranty.

 

Report the garage to the appropriate MOT body if its a scam.

 

Do not pay £300 or use this garage again. At the very least their replacement parts are of the poorest quality, must have tried really hard to source such shlt quality parts 

 

https://www.mister-auto.co.uk/front-shock-absorber/mazda/2/2-de-1-3-86hp-2007-2015/

 

 

Edited 3 March, 20197 yr by xman

44 minutes ago, xman said:

The garage is taking the pith. Did your wife drive it to the MOT?

 

Mots no longer carry out a push down test on shockers, havent for decades. Only thing they look for is a serious leak, light misting of the shocker is acceptable.

 

Go to a quick fit type place, ask them to inspect all shocks, they'll do it FOC. Ask to look for yourself. If you agree its gone, ask for a quote, probably will say around £80 per shocker. Go and tell the garage you demand a free replacement under warranty.

 

Report the garage to the appropriate MOT body if its a scam.

 

Do not pay £300 or use this garage again. At the very least their replacement parts are of the poorest quality, must have tried really hard to source such shlt quality parts 

 

https://www.mister-auto.co.uk/front-shock-absorber/mazda/2/2-de-1-3-86hp-2007-2015/

 

 

Yep I followed her there to then pick her up. She then drove it away. I've never used them before as I'm not from 'ere and try to do work myself or use someone I trust. Been weary of them for a while. I'll be suggesting the car doesn't return.  Paperwork says "serious fluid leak".

Might be they never even changed it last year, just took the money, then decided it was good enough to pass.

Being a tester myself this makes my blood boil, the tester MUST be certain it's a serious fluid leak, some shock absorbers have a a built in pressure relief valve which does allow excess pressure and fluid out giving the impression it's leaking.

 

In the manual it used to say "if in doubt pass and advise" not sure if it does now.

 

As said "a light misting of oil" is acceptable and should be passed, also water on the shock on a wet day can and does make it look as though they are leaking as mixes with the dirt and grim on the cars suspension.

 

I hope £300 is for the pair and not just one side, if its for one side that is taking the mic, An hour labour plus price of part and vat i would say £150-200, not £300.

49 minutes ago, Ju1ian1001 said:

In the manual it used to say "if in doubt pass and advise" not sure if it does now.

The new MOT manual says "A shock absorber ... showing signs of severe leakage" is classed as a Major fail.

8 minutes ago, PetrolDave said:

The new MOT manual says "A shock absorber ... showing signs of severe leakage" is classed as a Major fail.

It was written at the start of the manual, not in the chapters.

 Yes severe leakage, to me a severe leak will cover the shock absorber in fluid and is visually apparent, a minor misting or leak will not. I will say i have been testing 15 years now, started testing before computerisation came in, and over that time the quality of shock absorbers has got better, with less of them leaking, but you do still find it.

Edited 3 March, 20197 yr by Ju1ian1001

2 hours ago, xman said:

Might be they never even changed it last year, just took the money, then decided it was good enough to pass.

This was my first thought. 

@Ju1ian1001 you are bang on what I would expect. I am pretty handy with a spanner and nearing the end of a mech eng degree I'd like to think I understand how suspension works. In all the shocks on cars and push bikes I've seen it usually seems to be internal seals or wear that kills them.

As said I will be "chatting" to the garage in the morning. And no, it's £159 for one shock, £75 for 1hr labour and £30 for tracking. All +vat.

Edited 3 March, 20197 yr by MarkyG82

You don't need to retrack anything if just changing a shock absorber. 

14 minutes ago, MarkyG82 said:

This was my first thought. 

@Ju1ian1001 you are bang on what I would expect. I am pretty handy with a spanner and nearing the end of a mech eng degree I'd like to think I understand how suspension works. In all the shocks on cars and push bikes I've seen it usually seems to be internal seals or wear that kills them.

As said I will be "chatting" to the garage in the morning. And no, it's £159 for one shock, £75 for 1hr labour and £30 for tracking. All +vat.

I still think thats expensive, the front strut on a Mazda 2 is an easy D.I.Y job to be honest, the only "speacal tool" needed is a set of springs compressor's which can be bought from any good tool shop, that would save you at least £150. and unles they touch the steering track end lock nut (not needed as that is on the tie rod) then tracking should not need adjusting.

Edited 3 March, 20197 yr by Ju1ian1001

7 minutes ago, xman said:

You don't need to retrack anything if just changing a shock absorber. 

As just said in my post and Xman here the tracking should not need to be adjusted if changing the shock absorber.

Next time, you drive it to the MOT station. They see women as a soft target.

1 minute ago, xman said:

Next time, you drive it to the MOT station. They see women as a soft target.

so true, Me i treat men and women the same, fairly with a very honest and respectful manor. t's why we are constantly busy with MOT's, the same people keep coming back year on year, i tested some of the cars for the last 5 years.

25 minutes ago, Ju1ian1001 said:

I still think thats expensive, the front strut on a Mazda 2 is an easy D.I.Y job to be honest, the only "speacal tool" needed is a set of springs compressor's which can be bought from any good tool shop, that would save you at least £150. and unles they touch the steering track end lock nut (not needed as that is on the tie rod) then tracking should not need adjusting.

 

Problem with that is I don't have the time to do it myself by the time the MOT runs out. Happy to phone about for quotes though.

Will question the reason behind requirement for tracking.

2 minutes ago, MarkyG82 said:

 

Problem with that is I don't have the time to do it myself by the time the MOT runs out. Happy to phone about for quotes though.

Will question the reason behind requirement for tracking.

It's a quick and easy way to make £30 on top, thats why a lot of places do it, tracking is only required if fitting new fron tyres (best practice) or changing track rod ends or if the vehicle has struck a kerb, 

Yet another probable rip off.

 

They’re all at it.

 

Today I put a new Xenon bulb in my youngest’s Mini after a main dealer said the “bulb was ok” after claiming to have tried a new bulb. They didn’t even check the fuse (I found the fuse is OK). The main dealer wanted more than £100 an hour to “investigate the fault” then much more ££££ to fix it.

 

There will be an interesting phone call tomorrow when the appointment is cancelled.

 

Dealers are not our friends.

So, the garage have accepted that it's covered under warranty. Didn't get far enough into it to argue the costs. As we are not paying for it this time round I'm not bothered. Already suggested we don't use the same garage again to MrsG82. Not sure it went in though.

A lesson to be learned....................If possible, visually check afterwards any work claimed to have been carried out.

 

If you know work is to be done take 'before' photo's where possible or put some markings on item to be replaced..........or something like that.