Shock absorber - leaking vs misting

[gwinn]

Car is a 2016 Octavia III estate, with about 60k on the clock. One of the advisories in a previous MOT was a misting on the front right shock absorber (which seems pretty common). It's due another MOT in a couple months, and having looked at the shock, it does indeed look damp, though the car drives and corners normal.

I'm not quite sure what classes as "leak" vs "misting", is this likely to pass MOT, or will I need a new set of front shocks?

[wyson]

My Golf had something similar at around 70k miles.

It was an MOT advisory as they were still working properly.

My indy told me they will only go downhill and advised to replace the pair because it will become an MOT failure sooner rather than later.

At 60k miles yours have had a decent run. I’d get the front pair replaced.

I made the mistake of only replacing the weeping one (against my indy’s advice) but the other one went after 2k miles and I had to go back in again. I think when they are that old, its time to replace the pair.

Edited by wyson on Monday 14th February 09:12

[Jack2199]

They leak because the seals inside the shock (Sealing the oil that provides the demping effect) go bad. Once they start leaking they need to be replaced as soon all the oil from within will be out and will not provide any more damping.

That being said yours are not that bad yet n if your mot is in the next couple of days it should be an advisory. (Does depend on the station). However as said they do need replacing. And yes you have to replace both or els it won't be long before the next goes.

Regarding mileage it really depends on driving n the quality of the vehical. Vag group usually Mixed driving something they last around 80k. Full motorway i have seen 150k on original shocks on an 05 fabia.

Tk summarise, if they are leaking its time to replace. And replace in pairs.