Hi all

checking the car over after I heard a loud bang from the passenger side the other evening, I noticed this oil leak from the front passenger side strut

Am I correct in thinking this could be a MOT failure?

Also as this is a Monte Carlo spec, am I also correct in thinking the suspension is lower than other models by the spring height of 15mm, I've looked on euro parts and the strut is not listed

Or is it worth getting the pressure washer out near MOT time with the snow foam and engine cleaner?

It is an MOT fail, cleaning it up like new will only raise suspitions and considering the detremental effect it will have on the ride it is probably a good idea to treat it to a pair of new dampers.

Also, don't be an idiot like me and try and get away with aftermarket ones, you will be changing them again in a year!

or time to move it on?

Inspect the top and bottom of the spring carefully. Loud bang more likely was a piece of that breaking off. Look for a jagged end.

Definitely needing changed. Do both sides and get new top mounts as well. I agree with Pete that a loud bang isn't normal when a shock leaks and is more likely a broken spring unless the noise you heard was the shock bottoming out if its failed competely or a failed ttop mount. I used Napa on my last Octavia as thats all I could get in an emergency for an MOT but they are already a bit weak and not looking good. Other Octy has KYB and there a lot better and have lasted for a couple of years so far. Check the struts and if your lucky there is still a sticker with OEM part number left on there. I also replaced springs while I was at it as mine were getting rusty.

Alasdair

VWŠkoda damper don't appear to be very long lasting, my mate's heavy Toyota still have factory fitted suspension and it's heading towards 30, an ex-neighbour has/had a Yaris closing out its second decade too. My wife's 2015 Mk3 front dampers only lasted 41k-miles and 6 years before they had to be replaced and the Dealership replacements were "misting" after only 11 months / 6-7k-miles of use. Pretty p1ss-poor quality and longevity from VWŠkoda.

13 hours ago, nta16 said:

VWŠkoda damper don't appear to be very long lasting, my mate's heavy Toyota still have factory fitted suspension and it's heading towards 30, an ex-neighbour has/had a Yaris closing out its second decade too. My wife's 2015 Mk3 front dampers only lasted 41k-miles and 6 years before they had to be replaced and the Dealership replacements were "misting" after only 11 months / 6-7k-miles of use. Pretty p1ss-poor quality and longevity from VWŠkoda.

The ones on my old Octy were 16 years old and had done 140,000 miles before they went. New Skoda ones lasted about 2 years and 8000 miles. I know the roads are poorer these days but I expected longer than that. Funny how original parts seem to last for years but so called OEM replacement parts don't last nearly as long. I've started using KYB and so far so good.

Alasdair

Thanks for all the replies so far, I've jacked the car up and cannot see any jagged or broken sections of the spring and its not loose in its mounting so I don't think its broken, it could be right at the top. Time for a good think!

Any sign of any impact perhaps from something throw up from the road. Noises can be very difficult to pin down and anything from the underside can be amplified to sound loud inside the car. Look generally in the front area, both wheels arches and perhaps engine bay area then look at the underside going back to the rear. Noise(s) that sound like they're at the front can originate from the rear and visa-versa, and what one person describes as sounding at the front another person my say is at the rear, or middle.

Try bouncing the front of the car, passenger side first, see how bouncy it is before it stops, really the shocks absorbers are the springs and the dampers dampen the movement from them, the weaker the damper(s) the more bouncy. If the passenger side varies a lot from the driver's side then that is more worn, leaking, "missing", damaged than the other.

Just checked the front end today by jacking up the corner and making sure there was no load on the spring, which does not appear to be broken, at least at the bottom. There's no movement when i try to move it. So unless it broken at the top, I've made an appointment with the local agent to have a look and price for its replacement.

Shouldn't take that long to replace, an hour at the most, so I'm thinking around £250 for the repair?

I would get them to do both at the same time. I always replace shocks in pairs plus you might as well do the top mounts at the same time. I know some get away with doing just the one (normally for MOT) but the chances are that the non leaking one is now weaker than a new one and for handling I would definitley advise doing both.

Alasdair

Thanks for all the advice so far, will look at replacing both side as well as the springs and top mountings along with the drop links and possibly the brakes as working on the principle the wheel has to come off anyway so you may as well change at the same time. Next question, does the Monte Carlo have lowered suspension? Euro only seem to list only one type

Have been using Parts in Motion. https://www.partsinmotion.co.uk/ Have found their prices excellent and also normally delivery within 48 hrs with me. Check that there arent any OEM stickers left on the front shocks etc

Alasdair

If you are dead set on using ECP, maybe use their online contact thing to ask if they DO stock suitable front struts and springs - and maybe top mounts and top bearings for your car.

Doing that might save you a lot of annoyance further down the line.

Some of their front desk staff are interested in car stuff (mainly non UK nationals), but some (mainly UK nationals) are just “doing a job” - same for their managers.

I tend to do a lot of homework before collecting parts from ECP as I’ve fallen the “wrong parts” before. So that means checking aftermarket manufacturers web cats and only leaving your ECP branch if the numbers on the boxes match your online findings.