Leaking rear shock

[paul69]

Recently, when my car was in the garage having a wheel bearing replaced, they mistakenly thought the car was in for a MoT and told me it would fail due to a leaking rear shock absorber. The MoT is actually due next week so I checked the shock and I found that the boot had somehow become creased by the spring and the cap of the shock had got caught in the boot lifted off. I have never seen the inside of a shock absorber before, so I don't know if it was faulty or not, but inside was what looked like grease and I could see no signs of any leak. I replaced the cap and trimmed the boot a little as a stop-gap, but I would like to know if people think I just need to put a new boot on to pass the MoT or do I need to replace the shocks?

[Thom89]

I would just take the car for the MOT as is, let them check the car over as they should do, the likelihood is that there will be other stuff to sort out, and this could be the least of the problems

Thom

[paul69]

Yeah, but it is a job I could do for a lot less than what the garage will charge me if it indeed does need changing.

[Thom89]

I take it we're talking coilovers? they may need to go back to a dealer/stockist to be refurbished, which may not be cost effective! If you know the make, give them a ring, and ask for a price, and a turn around time, I suspect that this may be longer than what the MOT failure will allow time wise...
Otherwise its about an hours work to swap out the rear shockers, be it standard or coilovers

Thom

[Diamond Hell]

Unless of course the garage the last lot of work was done at was a pikey outfit and have smeared grease around the damper to make it look like it was leaking?

[Mr Blue]

S'bout to mention that^ it happens often! 

You can tell a blown coilover as the back end will bounce like a low rider 

[paul69]

They standard shocks, not coilovers. I haven't noticed any difference in the ride. I cleaned up the relevant shock today and I will check it again in the next couple of days to see if it comes back again.