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[SMD]

Car failed its MOT yesterday on leaking rear offside shock. The nearside was an advisory and wasn't as bad. Brought the back home all fine, took the car for a wash. On the way back, came to a roundabout which I took at a slightly higher speed and TC light flickered which I thought was due to the tyres still being wet from the wash.

A mile down the road, the car behaved very odd. Nearside bouncing all over the place and not absorbing any bumps. Car looks a little lower on that side now. I'll jack it up when it gets a little cooler, any tips on what to look for?

[chrisgixer]

Split/leaking air bag on the shock.

[SMD]

Thanks Chris, how can I check the airbag?

Also MOT didnt pick up any major issues on this side. So a little bit surprised this happened.

[albitz]

Could also be that a spring has snapped. Would be quite a coincidence,but stranger things have happened.

[chrisgixer]

They don't last too well tbh. If you get the pump running you'll hear a hissing, or air escaping.

So this only happened after the mot? Seems rather coincidental to me, or am I being cynical...?
Usually the oil leaks out of the dampers and they bang off bumps, long before to bladders fail.

Although, I've seen these haven't I? Bit tired iirc.

[henryd]

I had a small wet patch on the rear shock on my elite,went looking for where it was coming from and knocked off some loose rust and it leaked big time,I suspect the tester had a probe around with his hammer and caused similar,if he did then it needed changing anyway

[chrisgixer]

Yes that's the normal fail in that the rust festers on the shock body under the air big. Then the damper oil leaks out.


Op has failed ride height control, so presume from the mot description that the air bag/bladder has failed. Although any of the air related components on that side could be responsible. Air pipe connector could be un clipped for example.

Or thinking again. If the rust is bad enough, the whole shock body could have collapsed.

[SMD]

This bouncy ride has happened a few back actually, it only lasted for a few minutes before returning to normal. I just put it down to the road which was quite bad.

You did see these Chris, these were a tad rusty