Hello, car in question is a yr2000 1.2 8v.

Recently noticed a slightly floaty front end, looks like the nearside damper has lost its damping as when I bounce that corner it feels very easy to bounce and takes slightely longer to stop bouncing than the offside.

The shocks/mcpherson struts are original and the car has done 130k so I'm not surprised. My question is should these always be replaced in pairs? My local specialist has quoted me £80 for a pair, I have always bought my parts from them as they only fit and supply parts they have experience and trust. Although £80 is not a ridiculous amount I see on ebay that a pair can be had for around half that.

Has anyone had any experience of these 'cheapo' units?

Lots of people may disagree with me on this but, if you are keeping car and
Given age and miles change both.
Given the price difference, go for the ones from your trusted source. if they fail quickly you will find it much easier to deal with Locally.

Thought that would be the advice.

The car is begining to rot in all the usual places but i try to keep on top of it but it is a slow losing battle i suppose! It keeps passing MOT though and still drives well, every so often the power steering flickers for a split second but its done that for years so fingers crossed that keeps going.

what i have noticed since the damper failed is a much improved ride quality, the suspension at the front seems to soak up bumps much better with a fails damper.

pastamasta said:

Thought that would be the advice.

The car is begining to rot in all the usual places but i try to keep on top of it but it is a slow losing battle i suppose! It keeps passing MOT though and still drives well, every so often the power steering flickers for a split second but its done that for years so fingers crossed that keeps going.

what i have noticed since the damper failed is a much improved ride quality, the suspension at the front seems to soak up bumps much better with a fails damper.

Click to expand...

The spring absorbs the bumps and shocks
The damper restricts the motion caused by a spring when kept under tension on compression and rebound

When the damper fails youll find the suspension will actually move more
But itll also take alot longer for the oserlations of the spring to die down

If the cars not worth it - stick cheap on
If its good - stick quality units on

I put conti direct shocks on mine when i had just 1 spring snap
As well as reboxed (Unipart) Lemfomoder springs
Along with new track rod ends and tracking my front end is pretty sound!


Ziggy

Still have not decided on which ones to go for but my choice might be influenced by my drive home tonight!

I noticed a new noise coming from the power steering! I have always been able to hear the relays faintly clicking but this noise is difficult to describe, more of a fast ticking as the steering wheel is turned. I presume it could be the motor or related gears? Does it need greasing or could it be on its way out, no
light on the dashboard...........yet!!

are you driving without fuse cover?

Shocks should ALWAYS be renewed in pairs.
Changing only one side is a waste of time really.
Get 2 new shocks ,obviously the more money you spend the better
quality shocks you get,again depends on condition of car and how long
u intend keeping it for.

Will do both dampers but a little concerned about the power steering noise. It's a hard noise to describe, i suppose its like a creak/rapid ticking definately sounds like gears making a bit of noise.

My fuse box is closed, does noise come from that area?

TONY55S said:

obviously the more money you spend the better

Click to expand...

Well, that depends on how it works out.
For a contrary point of view, I replaced both on the front, to find it failing the MOT irrecoverably a couple of months later.

The underlying assumption in all the answers is the price = quality.