Technical Panda Rear Shockers Advice Please

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Technical Panda Rear Shockers Advice Please

mints

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Please can anyone inform me on a couple of points.
I have attached photos for clarity, its my 2010 Panda and last Sept. at 60600 miles it failed mot for worn upper bush offside rear, this they replaced.
I have in the last couple of days been to another garage for brake adjustment and had my attention draw to the fact that both rear shocks upper bush are in need of replacement the mileage is now 61800.
As the offside is new should not the bush lasted longer.
I am a novice and I assume the circular bit at the top is the upper bush.
 

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the tear in the rubber looks more like they weren't fitted properly

there was a twist in the rubber while the shocks were at ride height.

normally due to being tightened while at full droop


Fitted correctly normally the steel tube tears a oval hole within the rubber over 10s of thousands of miles

there is a warning on elearn the official workshop manual that if not tightened correctly it will result in premature wear.


seen in happen on my own car. Just replaced both sides because they previously incorrectly fitted
 
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Looking at both of those shocks they both look to be original items are you sure they replaced the shock absorber for the last mot

On the fail document the offside rear shock is listed for immediate replacement plus another couple of items at the front of the car, the rear nearside shock was an advisory for worn upper bush.
The car was returned and repaired and a pass was issued.
I notice at the shockers bottom end the nearside one looks a lot older than the offside, but at the top the bush on both as a hole.
I have been quoted £110 for two new ones.
 
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On the fail document the offside rear shock is listed for immediate replacement plus another couple of items at the front of the car, the rear nearside shock was an advisory for worn upper bush.
The car was returned and repaired and a pass was issued.
I notice at the shockers bottom end the nearside one looks a lot older than the offside, but at the top the bush on both as a hole.
I have been quoted £110 for two new ones.

You have paid for a new component to be supplied and fitted

This has failed within 7 months and minimal mileage

You should have this replaced free under warranty.. it is your legal right

Suspension parts should have a minimum of 12 months / 8,000 miles warranty ;)
 
The top photo of the shock bottom is the offside and the last photo is the shock bottom of the nearside.

post your last MOT one side was advisory ?


Normally when you ask for the work carried out its the bare minimum



just reread your First post. only one side changed


Check that the distance between the rear wing maximum curvature point and the wheel centre is 626 mm.

It should be remembered that this operation is vital to ensure the correct operation of the front suspension and prevent premature damage to the track control arm rubber bushes.


yes just installed incorrectly, and torn the rubber


yes I know it should read rear shouldn't mention track control arm . a typo in the manual as it a copy and paste from the font


http://4cardata.info/elearn/169/2/2009000/2000901/2001394/2752810
 
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failed mot for worn upper bush offside rear, this they replaced.
I read this to mean the bush in the axle itself, rather than the shock absorber?

The right side shocker is in better condition, but looks older than 7 months to me.

Do you have receipts or any way of confirming what was actually replaced in September?
I am a novice and I assume the circular bit at the top is the upper bush.
Correct, whenever 'bush' is used in this context it refers to the rubber mountings like this. They would never replace the bush in a shock absorber, but the entire shocker.
 
Looking at both of those shocks they both look to be original items are you sure they replaced the shock absorber for the last mot
Comparing the two shots of the bottom bushes I think the second pic shows a much newer shock than the last pic (ie. O/S shock looks in much better condition paintwise compared to the N/S one) Don't you think? So probably the O/S was replaced?
 
Correct, whenever 'bush' is used in this context it refers to the rubber mountings like this. They would never replace the bush in a shock absorber, but the entire shocker.

The top bush does look pretty "tired" I know it's a voided bush but if you magnify the images you can see the rubber is separating from the central bush. As someone said above, might be due to the retaining bolt being tightened before the suspension was set at running ride height?

£110 for replacement? Exactly what my older boy paid last week to have both rear shocks replaced on his 2012 Punto at his local wee garage. I don't think that's unreasonable. One of his shocks had actually corroded right through just above the bottom mount and spat out all it's oil - I've not seen that before.

PS. I don't think any commercial garage would entertain replacing just the bush in a shock absorber, even if the bush was available. By the way, it's good practice to always do shockers in axle sets, not just one at a time.
 
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there not the same make shock

one is much thicker metal around the top eye close to OEM

other is a thinner cheap copy

I would be concerned about. this, they work just fine. If fitted correctly.

If you ask for it to be fixed for a MOT its unlikely to have both changed unless you specifically ask for both

Post the paperwork just cover up your name and address then we know what we ate dealing with
 
I think those 2 V shape gaps in the rubber above and below the bolt are meant to be there, maybe something to do with factory OEM? My panda had them too on OEM dampers before i changed them, but the nearside definitely needs changing before MOT as you can see the worn elongated oval the bolt is sitting in.
 
I think those 2 V shape gaps in the rubber above and below the bolt are meant to be there, maybe something to do with factory OEM? My panda had them too on OEM dampers before i changed them, but the nearside definitely needs changing before MOT as you can see the worn elongated oval the bolt is sitting in.

That is the 'void' ... ;)

( ford cortinas had VoidBushes on the rear axle... a very regular failure point )
 
That is the 'void' ... ;)

( ford cortinas had VoidBushes on the rear axle... a very regular failure point )
Oh, I remember them Charlie! Absolute nightmare until we bought the proper kit for doing them, Then it was relatively easy peasy. I seem to remember the rubber often separated from the metal sleeve and it all clonked about spectacularly! Those were the days I worked in the Firestone Tyre and Auto store and we did lots of them! Mk3, 4 and 5 Cortina's if I remember?
 
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