Rear shocker question

[woodman]

Hello,

My trusty mechanic did a few nips and tucks for me last week, including fixing a problem that happened once before a few years ago, where the cup washer on the bottom of a rear shocker popped through the nut. He's said he has a suspicion that the rear shockers are actually a tiny bit too short, causing them to be under too much pressure against the spring.

I'm on standard springs and I changed the shockers myself several years ago. They're Bilsteins which came for a local stockist, but I can't remember the specification. They've done about 30,000 miles now and I think they're getting tired, as the handling is not what it once was.

Does anyone have any experience of this, or is my mechanic imagining it? Given that it's time to change the shockers, what would you recommend? It's a family car so I want a comfy ride but I do like to push it through the corners a bit.

Thanks.

[Derek UK]

Bilsteins should hold their damping for at least 100k, more when just doing day to day motoring. New mounting kits are probably out there and might include poly instead of rubber mounts. If the mounting holes have ovaled it will be hard to keep everything snugged up tight and in line. Holes can be welded and reshaped. Monroes are cheap and work well but won't last as long as Bilsteins , your experience not withstanding. A 4 door I bought had KYB on the rear, fitted by the OP before selling as he had them on the shelf. They were appalling, rock hard, and made the rear of the car jump all over the place. Monroes cured all that.

[SwallownAmazon]

I used SPAX adjustable dampers for more than 20 years at the front and rear of my rally car, doing about 60,000 miles. They came with dirty great shaped washers instead of those pressed tin standard things. I only replaced them this year with GAZ dampers as one of the SPAX units was seizing, perhaps because the piston rod was bent.
The GAZ dampers came with poly bushes which do a much better job and are available anywhere, the bushes that is.

[Volvorama]

The dampers should not be taken to the limit of their movement as the big straps fitted between axle and body should stop the downward movement before the dampers reach maximum length.