Bilstein leaks

Regular driving, if your shocks are shot, you will notice when you hit bumps. You could possibly bottom out, which you will certainly know happened. If you arent noticing a jarring jolt every time you hit a pebble, you are fine. If they are COMPLETELY gone, you will have difficulty steering them.
Looking at that stain, those look old. Not necessarily a leak. In the army, this would be a class 1 leak-not something to be concerned about-and, doesnt even look like it is from the shock fluid, to be honest. For discoloration to reach that high, the fluid would have leaked below, too-and with your pics, I dont see any evidence of that.

 

I know the basics but no, not a DIYer with auto. I use fluid film where I can to help.

 

That’s good to hear. I’ve also cleaned my shocks with fluid film in the past so I’m guessing it could be leftover from that too. Jolt as in a hard hit feeling? They feel bouncy and react quickly after bumps but they’ve always seemed to be like that. But I don’t hit a bump and think “thud” or anything.

 

The shocks essentially (mind you, I am NOT a mechanic) dampen the impact, while the spring will provide a limiting factor to your suspension. Without any fluids in your shocks, they are simply a piston with no resistance. They work similarly to the arm on a screen door. Same concept. IF there were no fluid, you would kinda float on the springs, and be all bouncy when you hit a bump. You would definitely know the difference if the shocks were shot. And, with only 50k on them, all road driving, I HIGHLY doubt they are shot.
People drive their regular cars without EVER changing shocks. Its just something people dont obsess over, outside of the 4WD world. If you dont notice a difference in riding, then it isnt leaking. Or, not enough to be an issue. To ME (again, I am not a mechanic, and are looking at the pics everyone else is), it looks like that is residual from the fluid you applied-not a leaking shock.

 

Awesome, thanks so much. I do notice a little bounciness, just can’t completely remember if it’s always been like this. I always remember feeling it to some degree tho.

 

midas...they sell Monroe shocks. LMA0! They refused to install my Bilstein 5100s. Midas sucks!

 

Just funny to me the guy basically said I gotta replace all my shocks as if they are well and gone. I said "you sure? I bought these almost 3 years ago and driven about 2.5 years... 99% road miles... but they magically all are shot?". My father has dealt with this same guy before and told me he doesn't go to him anymore because he's always pushing to sell.

 

I may be wrong, but it looks like road grime to me.

 

yeah to be honest, nothing he showed me looked like tell tale signs of leakage. The front right shock he showed a trail of old oil but I'm pretty sure I've sprayed fluid film all over that area so it would make sense its from that. When I mentioned to him that it might be fluid film since i've doused all the shocks in it for winter... he kinda got quiet and didn't say anything.

 

The main time I noticed worn out shocks is in a turn and you hit a bump. Felt like the car would skip sideways a bit before the wheels bounced and made good enough contact again to hold the curve. Replaced shocks in that car and it doesn’t noticeably skip in the same turn.

Although, in new stock OR shocks and no extra rear weight it felt like the rear axel fluttered a lot going over bumps. Just that kind of squirrely feel, like it takes a second to get the wheels back on the ground tracking straight. 5160s and a little weight took care of that.

 

3k on Bilsteins?? Yikesss

 

Sorry, that was on all parts of the lift and labor. Not just shocks. Wheels/tires included was maybe 3500 all-in

 

I noticed the same thing with stock and billies… rear jumps around a little.

 

My 1" rear block doesn't have that rear skip/jump/bounce problem. Lucky for me, I did'nt need to replace the Off Road rear shocks, just the 5100's up front with the stock coils.

No brainer, now I have room for bigger 255/75/17 pizza cutter tires next time around.

If it's good enough for the OEM TRD 2/1 lift kit, it's good enough for me.....

 

That makes a lot more sense

 

https://www.bilstein.com/us/en/products-and-services/warranty/#downloads \/

"With the exception of Products from the Clubsport, Motorsport, EVO S, EVO SE, EVO T1, EVO T2, EVO R, B8 5125/5160/5165/8100/8112/8125/9200/9300 series, the steering gear, standalone B3 coil and B3 leaf spring as well as B8 Control Arm categories, BILSTEIN warrants that Products purchased from a BILSTEIN distributor in NA shall be free from defects in design, material and workmanship for as long as the original purchaser owns the product and it is installed on the original vehicle the product was purchased for."

"Separate warranty period for Products from the steering gear, standalone B3 coil spring, B3 leaf spring and B8 5160/8100/8112 categories purchased in NA: If the Products purchased in NA are Products from the steering gear, standalone B3 coil spring, B3 leaf spring or B8 5160/8100/8112 category, the following warranty shall apply: BILSTEIN warrants to the original purchaser that, for a period of two (2) years from the date of purchase through a BILSTEIN distributor or retailer, this Product shall be free from defects in design, material and workmanship. Some States do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts so the above limitation may not apply."

 

pop one of your rear shocks off and push and pull the plunger in and out, if its firm and smooth there probably fine, if its jerky or very easy to push and pull there shot, it will take about 10 minutes to check this.

 

That’s not a leak, it’s seep from your shock piston wiper seal. If you don’t keep the shock piston clean particles travel up into the wiper seal which in very basic terms keeps your fluid from leaking out. Keep it clean, it’ll last longer.

 

No oil sprayed anywhere in your wheel well, no oil on the bottom bolt of your shock... Nope no leaks there.

When a shock starts leaking and you have driven around you don't get tiny drips (well not for long) ....
the oil is under very high pressure so it sprays out all over the place.

here is a good video that will go through it all for you. So you don;t have to take our word for it that your shocks look fine.

 

thanks man... makes me feel better! He had actually pointed out on my 6112 up front a leakage trail on the shock body. I said "couldn't that be fluid film I sprayed?" and he kind of avoided that question. Good to know it doesn't seep, but spray.