How Long Are Shocks Good For?
07-02-18, 02:18 PM
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
How Long Are Shocks Good For?
Hi everyone!
I have just discovered, duh, that my 07 regular 460 has normal shocks, not air ones.
Now with 106,000 miles the suspension, the ride, feels very good but I am curious as to when you all first replaced your shocks, what are the symptoms to look out for?
I know the standard qualifiers, depends of how the car is driven, etc, just my past experience that they should have been replace by now per the mileage.....? What goes bad on shocks on these cars, is it a good idea to have them professionally rebuilt or just get new ones?
And how about the front struts, my understanding is that the front suspension is struts and the rear is shocks. Anyone give me an idea at what mileage, fairly gently driven, the struts are good for? THANKS!
I have just discovered, duh, that my 07 regular 460 has normal shocks, not air ones.
Now with 106,000 miles the suspension, the ride, feels very good but I am curious as to when you all first replaced your shocks, what are the symptoms to look out for?
I know the standard qualifiers, depends of how the car is driven, etc, just my past experience that they should have been replace by now per the mileage.....? What goes bad on shocks on these cars, is it a good idea to have them professionally rebuilt or just get new ones?
And how about the front struts, my understanding is that the front suspension is struts and the rear is shocks. Anyone give me an idea at what mileage, fairly gently driven, the struts are good for? THANKS!
Last edited by colfax; 07-02-18 at 02:59 PM.
07-02-18, 05:56 PM
#2
Pole Position
I think industry standards says to replace them at 50k miles, which I don't necessarily agree with, but I have seen videos of how shocks at around 50,000 negatively effect stability control systems, handling, braking, etc.
But to inspect shocks you do a visual inspection (check for leakage). You pull the dust cover up and use a flashlight to check for oil staining. If it's leaking its junk. Also check the spring to see if it's broken. And then there's the jounce test. Push down on the fender and see if the shock portion of the strut can handle the return of the spring (should bounce once and settle before the second time).
But to inspect shocks you do a visual inspection (check for leakage). You pull the dust cover up and use a flashlight to check for oil staining. If it's leaking its junk. Also check the spring to see if it's broken. And then there's the jounce test. Push down on the fender and see if the shock portion of the strut can handle the return of the spring (should bounce once and settle before the second time).
07-02-18, 06:41 PM
#3
Pole Position
i have a 11 with 117k, had all the suspension checked at lexus, everything checked out. (i have the regular shocks too). I usually put some coilovers after 100k but for an AWD i cant find some. My friends ls430 has about 200k miles still feels pretty good. I think the big variable is where you live, we dont have really bad roads like in bigger cities so the shocks do not take much of a toll. i remmeber i test drove a LS 2014 in VA, was traded in from NY had only 18k miles it drove like it was drove more than 100k, i was pretty sure it needed new control arms and maybe one of the struts.
Hi everyone!
I have just discovered, duh, that my 07 regular 460 has normal shocks, not air ones.
Now with 106,000 miles the suspension, the ride, feels very good but I am curious as to when you all first replaced your shocks, what are the symptoms to look out for?
I know the standard qualifiers, depends of how the car is driven, etc, just my past experience that they should have been replace by now per the mileage.....? What goes bad on shocks on these cars, is it a good idea to have them professionally rebuilt or just get new ones?
And how about the front struts, my understanding is that the front suspension is struts and the rear is shocks. Anyone give me an idea at what mileage, fairly gently driven, the struts are good for? THANKS!
I have just discovered, duh, that my 07 regular 460 has normal shocks, not air ones.
Now with 106,000 miles the suspension, the ride, feels very good but I am curious as to when you all first replaced your shocks, what are the symptoms to look out for?
I know the standard qualifiers, depends of how the car is driven, etc, just my past experience that they should have been replace by now per the mileage.....? What goes bad on shocks on these cars, is it a good idea to have them professionally rebuilt or just get new ones?
And how about the front struts, my understanding is that the front suspension is struts and the rear is shocks. Anyone give me an idea at what mileage, fairly gently driven, the struts are good for? THANKS!
07-02-18, 09:58 PM
#4
Lexus Fanatic
I have never had to replace a shock on any car I have owned or driven, I don't hear of it happening that much either except for people with lift kits who go offroading or who drive on terrible roads daily like NYC, I am driving a car with 170K miles that never had a shock replaced and still rides very well. they should last well over 100K miles, air shocks are totally different, it is common for them to fail before 100K miles. Heavier vehicles and vehicles that are exposed to rough roads, off roading will obviously need shocks much sooner.
07-03-18, 08:33 PM
#5
I just replaced all 4 at 215k. They were originals. The symptoms were that the car was very bouncy and you would feel a strange vibration that felt like a giant tuning fork being struck everytime you hit a bump on the highway. The onset was fast. I wonder if I stressed them somehow when I was jacking the car up and putting the vehicle on ramps under all 4 wheels attempting to drain and fill the transmission fluid (which I ultimately decided to leave to Toyota). But the new shocks completely fixed it. I do not recommend the complete strut assembly for sale on ebay or elsewhere, there is a reason rockauto does not carry them (learned the hard way). But my ride is smooth as hell now and I commute almost 100 miles a day so I really get to enjoy it. Sometimes I even take the long way home!
07-04-18, 06:41 AM
#7
In 20 plus years at my dealership we changed very few shocks. Of course customers came in with recomendations from tire shops and brake shops who churn shocks for profit. They would take the good oem’s off and toss them. Once in a while they leak. Even less often they bounce the corner their on. They do go bad on occasion but most times they last forever.
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