On Sun, 17 Apr 2005 04:02:39 GMT, slim <pickin's@nyc.rr.com> wrote:

>
>
>Group question!
>
>(btw...THANKS to everyone on the wiper question)
>
>I only have 60K miles on the car, mostly city driving,
>when can I expect to have to replace the shocks and/or
>struts?
>
>The ride and handling are still good.
>
>Do the shocks and struts just "blow out" suddenly,
>or do they deteriorate quickly over a period of time?

Depends where you live but that suspension system is prone to broken front
springs in the frost belt - the spring breaks just where it enters the
perch on the shock. Because of where the break is, you probably won't even
notice any difference in ride/handling but you might hear a "doink" when
you get out of the car on the side with the break; you'd definitely hear
the "doink... doink" when you jack the front up. The break *can* put some
side force on the shock which will wear it out quicker.

Unless you drive on rough roads a lot, the shocks could last the life of
the car... or at least till suspension ball joints or bushings need
replaced, i.e. well into the 100-200K mile range. BTW the often-mentioned
bounce test doesn't tell you anything about shock absorber condition,
unless they're really shot - a better criterion is extended stopping
distance on a rippled surface... or wallowing on corners and freeway
undulations.

Note that with the Honda double-wishbone setup, the shock absorber only has
to do one thing: damp suspension motions... unlike a MacPherson strut
system where the shock turns with the steering, acts as a suspension
locating member and gets all sorts of other stresses from those actions....
damn Earle MacPherson.:-)

--
Rgds, George Macdonald