Does this shock look blown out?

Does this OEM off-road front shock look blown out, or just dirty?

 

If you press down on the piston does it have firm and even resistance as it compresses and then extends back out?

 

Judging by the texture of the dirt on the spring perch, looks like it's mixed with shock oil. Looks like the spring perch blocked the shock oil from flowing further downward on the shock body, therefore the lower shock body is clean.

It is not worth the labor to install this leaking shock on another truck.

 

Yes, it feels ok in that regard, but probably leaking. I also noticed a small rubber o-ring on the upper shaft, not in place. I’m sure that o-ring is supposed to be inside the shock?

 

I would clean it up then push down on it a few times and inspect for oil.

 

Either way, I wouldn't use it or trust it. Get some bilstein 5100 or better and do not install this shock on anything.

 

Shock will not be re-used. Just installed new ones. I was just curious if I’ve been driving on a blown shock for a while.

 

Unless you drive right behind school busses and old ram 2500 diesel trucks that roll coal, yes.

 

Yes the OEM Bilsteins are undersized for the truck weight if you drive on gravel or dirt roads. Being undersized (small oil volume) means the oil is more prone to overheating.

 

That is roughly what mine looked like after 60k km (30k mi) of 50/50 dirt road/highway driving. They were blown and there was a noticeable positive improvement when I put on 5100s.

Additionally, yes, this. You would be shocked (pun unintended) at how many factory hitachi/oem Bilsteins give up the second they experience any extended washboard conditions.

 

What did you replace them with?

 

TRD shocks.

 

If you can compress it with 2 hands off the ground, it's blown, if you have to put one end on the ground to put some weight on it to compress it, it probably isn't blown, at least that was my experience after going through several rear shock combinations. I think I read somewhere that once a shock loses >10% of it's oil they are effectively useless. I had a blown shock around ~10k miles and it made the rear end of my truck noticeably bouncy.

 

Blown? Probably not. Leaked some oil, probably. Shocks don't typically blow up. When they do, you will know it.