NCT suspension failure - do i need to replace?

magnethead · 13-03-2014 11:35am #1

Hi Guys,
My car jsut failed the NCT with a leaky shock. Please see pics..Do you think I need to replace the shock or can I just clean up up(see the next pic) and just see how it goes for a week and bring it back?
Do these things have magical seals that leak a bit, realise their mistake and re-seal

What I'm really asking I guess, does the NCT guy want to see a new shock in there jsut because it was 'leaking'....there was only a 10% on the test!

Am I fooling myself? Should I just repalce it anyway...It seems fine to drive on.

Thanks for your input

P.S why is the oil creeping UP the spring? Surely it should be coming down??

Before::

After::

roadsmart · 13-03-2014 11:38am

The next tester will see it listed on the sheet, so yes he will notice if you don't replace it.

Cee-Jay-Cee · 13-03-2014 11:43am

If it's leaking then it's done and needs to be replaced.

biko · 13-03-2014 11:55am

Also, it's advisable to change in pairs.

magnethead · 13-03-2014 12:29pm

Thanks for the reply lads, I was afraid of the 'replace in pairs' but it makes sense even though it's much more work :mad:

I heard of a product in the states called 'fork seal' for motorbikes, which are it's shock....mayeb that's different, but I guess the work involved in getting the shock off to apply it, might as well replace them

Balls!!!!

mickdw · 13-03-2014 12:33pm

Your car will be much improved with new shocks.
It's shouldn't be a massive cost provided the car is not something special.

magnethead · 13-03-2014 12:41pm

Should have cleaned it before going to the NCT!! Schoolboy error!

It's a 03 Toyota Corolla, as common as muck ;p

Di acetyl Morphine ! · 13-03-2014 12:45pm

NCT is a scam. I'd just blame the suspension damage on a clamping company and make them pay for the damage.

mickdw · 13-03-2014 12:48pm

magnethead wrote: »

Should have cleaned it before going to the NCT!! Schoolboy error!

It's a 03 Toyota Corolla, as common as muck ;p

Get 2 new ones so as they cannot be expensive. you would only be fooling yourself by keeping them shocks in there as sooner or later, the leaky one will completely fail in doing its job.
Did it fail on imbalance also.

guil · 13-03-2014 1:50pm

Surely it will fail the retest so cleaning it won't matter.

Toyotafanboi · 13-03-2014 1:52pm

i had a weeping shock fail before, but with an imbalance that was still passable.

i washed the shock with degreaser and wrote on it with tip-ex pen the model and year of the car so it looked like it came from a scrap yard and it passed.

your imbalance is still passable, i'd be surprised if you done the above and it wouldn't pass.

in fairness i know it's not ideal and the shock is still failing, but if you are like me at the time (penniless) then it's a viable short term solution.

magnethead · 13-03-2014 4:56pm

Thanks Toyotafanboi

I needed to hear someone trying that and getting away with it, nice trick with the tip-ex

It was a bit annoying because the test results on the top picture here show it passing with a 10% difference..

NCT is a pain in the &^%%

bucketybuck · 13-03-2014 5:02pm

People are strange. You do realise those parts are there for a very good reason?

You have been told that an important part of your car suspension is faulty, and your response is to want to just leave it there?

Toyotafanboi · 13-03-2014 7:24pm

bucketybuck wrote: »

People are strange. You do realise those parts are there for a very good reason?

You have been told that an important part of your car suspension is faulty, and your response is to want to just leave it there?

ah come on now. i've seen worse imbalance readings on shocks that have passed. a mildly weeping shock is hardly a death trap.

if the op is cash strapped, as many of us are these days, then it's a viable solution for a period. something he can keep an eye on and maybe replace a little down the line.

from personal experience his plan will most likely work. i admit it's not a by the book solution, but i'd imagine a set of chinese tyres would be more dangerous than a mildly weeping shock but they will fly through the NCT, for example. (i know that's not overly relevant but just from a safety/ NCT fail comparison point of view).

bucketybuck · 14-03-2014 12:41am

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

ah come on now. i've seen worse imbalance readings on shocks that have passed. a mildly weeping shock is hardly a death trap.

I just never will understand why some people are happy to cut corners on something that is propelling you down the road at 60mph.

I couldn't care less about scratches or dents, but I always look after my brakes, steering and suspension. Nothing to do with any NCT, just good practice.

slimjimmc · 14-03-2014 1:45am

magnethead wrote: »

P.S why is the oil creeping UP the spring? Surely it should be coming down??

Getting soaked up by the dust and dirt on the spring I guess.

jca · 14-03-2014 9:46am

bucketybuck wrote: »

I just never will understand why some people are happy to cut corners on something that is propelling you down the road at 60mph.

I couldn't care less about scratches or dents, but I always look after my brakes, steering and suspension. Nothing to do with any NCT, just good practice.

I'm so glad the nct was brought in when you see some of the "solutions" being offered here. Leaky shocks are lethal. If the op stops being a cheapskate and replaces the pair his car will be transformed. He'll be back here saying he's sorry he didn't do it ages ago.

magnethead123 · 23-03-2014 6:04pm

Hiya, THanks for all the replies, I tried cleaning the shock, but it just leaked out all over itself again within the week.

I'm going to replace the rear 2.. Can any knowledgable Mechanic recommend a decent shock for a corolla? THe toyota dealer is up the road but I don't want to pay top dollar for a standard shock with the price jacked up by them when a good aftermarket one would probably be better.

NCT coming up this Friday :mad: so I need to buy the shocks tomorrow

THanks for your help

joujoujou · 23-03-2014 6:31pm

Get the cheapest ones from local motor factor.

cletus · 23-03-2014 6:46pm

As joujou said, go to your local motor factors if replacing them yourself, otherwise go to your trusted indie mechanic and let him buy them at trade price and put them on.

Its not a performance vehicle, so pretty much any spurious shock made for your car will be fine

JohnBoy26 · 23-03-2014 8:54pm

magnethead123 wrote: »

Hiya, THanks for all the replies, I tried cleaning the shock, but it just leaked out all over itself again within the week.

I'm going to replace the rear 2.. Can any knowledgable Mechanic recommend a decent shock for a corolla? THe toyota dealer is up the road but I don't want to pay top dollar for a standard shock with the price jacked up by them when a good aftermarket one would probably be better.

NCT coming up this Friday :mad: so I need to buy the shocks tomorrow

THanks for your help

you will have to replace both shocks at the same time to avoid an imbalance. Kyb or Monroe are both decent brands of shocks that can be got for reasonable money.

magnethead123 · 24-03-2014 8:25pm

Fairplay I picked up KYB Gas shocks (Two of them), so from the sounds of it, they won't leak oil

but when a Gas seal goes they'll probably leak all in one go LOL

What would be a fair price(Time) for installing 2 of these rear shocks, given the mechanic will have to take the spring off before putting the shocks in etc...

THanks

magnethead · 31-03-2014 11:47am

Just to close off this thread, the KYB shocks were 80 euro each and the job was done by a mechanic near work for 60 euro.....

and most importantly it passed the NCT/racket (Until next year)

aidan conroy · 06-06-2014 8:49pm

Nct test and my car failed on shocks. They read 55mm (left) 35mm (right). which shock is to be replaced? Thank you.

JohnBoy26 · 06-06-2014 8:56pm

aidan conroy wrote: »

Nct test and my car faild on shocks.they read 55mm(left)35mm(right).which shock is to b replaced.thank u

Both. They need to be replaced in pairs.

aidan conroy · 06-06-2014 9:05pm

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Both. They need to be replaced in pairs.

I have a pair with lower springs on them which are loose on them. If i took them off and put two different springs on them would that work?

NCT suspension failure - do i need to replace?

Comments