SACHS Workshop tip:

Leaking Shock Absorbers.

General note

Our useful tips provide only an overview. The installation instructions and operating instructions provided by the vehicle manufacturer and the warning and safety instructions contained therein must be observed! All work must be performed by a trained professional. The pictures used and the procedure described in our tips are examples and may vary depending on the vehicle manufacturer and axle design.

When are dampers leaky?

Apparently leaking shocks often don't indicate a defect, but are absolutely tight and functioning properly. A certain amount of “perspiration” is completely normal, and even necessary to lubricate the piston rod seal. Therefore never assess the dampers after driving in the rain. When you check them, they must be dry.

Here is the best way to do the job:

Feel the damper with dry fingers.
If your fingers remain dry, the damper is usually not leaky. If you have any doubts, thoroughly wipe the damper and check it again after a few days.

SACHS offers free service information to download on what causes leaking shock absorbers, on their symptoms and other topics. The following sections also give you some useful tips on how to fix leaking shock absorbers:

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Oil mist residue on damper

Cause:

During every stroke, the piston rod carries a very small amount of oil from the working cylinder to lubricate the seal.

Consequence:

If the damper was bone-dry, residue from this oil will be visible.

Comment:

This oil does not indicate a damper defect; it is perfectly normal. Following extended periods of use, oil mist residue may even be visible on around one third of the reservoir tube.

Oil mist residue on damper

Damper shows clear traces of oil

Cause:

If you find clear traces of oil on a damper, the cause is usually worn piston rod seals. There are various reasons for such wear:

Long runtime
High stress
Sand or road dirt

Consequence:

The defective piston rod seal leads to oil loss which in turn reduces the damping force. The clear traces of oil indicate that the damper needs replacing.

Damper shows clear traces of oil

Underbody sealant on damper

Cause:

Sometimes you find traces of underbody sealant or preserving wax on a car's dampers. You can be certain these substances did not get there due to a leaking shock absorber. Usually, such traces indicate that underbody sealant or wax was deliberately applied manually to ensure the greatest possible durability of the components. However, this procedure is unfortunately not effective.

Consequence:

It appears that oil is leaking.
Heat dissipates more slowly.

Comment:

Underbody sealant or preserving wax do not belong on the dampers, so remove them! Accumulated road dirt is also often wrongly diagnosed as leakage.

Underbody sealant on damper

Chrome coating on piston rod worn out

Cause:

Leakage can also occur when the chrome coating on the piston rod is worn out. The reasons for this are usually:

Strong distortion of the damper during installation
Misaligned attachment points

Consequence:

Wear on seal and piston rod guide, leading to oil loss and reduced performance

Comment:

You can prevent damage to the chrome coating on the piston rod by only tightening damper screws once the vehicle is standing on its wheels.

Chrome coating on piston rod worn out

Piston rod damaged

Cause:

Damage to the piston rod surface can also make the damper leaky. Usually, this kind of damage occurs when the piston rod has been held with pliers during assembly.

Consequence:

The rough piston rod surface causes the seal to tear, leading to oil loss and reduced performance.

Comment:

To avoid damaging the piston rod, only use special tools.

Piston rod damaged

Service Information for SACHS products

We provide service information on SACHS products to download free of charge and in more than 25 languages. This includes technical information, help with installation and disassembly of spare parts and tips on preventing damage to the product.

Find related technical information

SACHS Workshop tip:

Leaking Shock Absorbers.

General note

When are dampers leaky?

Oil mist residue on damper

Damper shows clear traces of oil

Underbody sealant on damper

Chrome coating on piston rod worn out

Piston rod damaged

Service Information for SACHS products

Further information