Mine are starting to weep / leak at 52K, but they have been on cobalt sc/ss springs for 30,000 of those miles.

 

BTW, gas charged struts have very little oil in them, bouncing is more reliable test. If there is a major oil stain all around the thing, then good chance it's bad or squirted look for old dirty oil stain, if that's your test. I was amazed to see that major manufacturers recommend changing shocks & struts every 50K! But, the hose manufacturers also recommend replacing radiator hoses every YEAR!

 

I have 81K and to my knowledge do not have leaking struts but very well could be based on some of the mileage I see here..what are the symptoms and where would I see the leak?



Goose

 

I noticed mine were a little wet this past weekend under the dust shield. Lift it up from the top of the strut to expose the shaft. The top of the strut cylinder was damp. Not bad, but I'll keep and eye on it and change them if it looks like they are getting worse.

 

Bounce the bumper, three repeats semi-good more bad. Main symptom is bouncing when applying brakes in a "panic stop" (in quotes because I live in actual 70MPH for a mile & STOP), might also present as "warped rotor" something like pulsation, but not exactly. GM was very clever in not providing a rear sway bar to cover up strut/shock probs!

 

Ok in the semi dark I lifted the dust cover and felt I guess at the base of the part the dust cover is over...didn't feel wet per say but my finger came back well pretty dirty......I guess that could be oil stain?

Funny how when I put new tires on the car the front end feels like mush? Steering feels like it has some more play in it and I don't feel as sure footed taking corners at the speed I used to...odd because these tires are a lot more "sporty" than the Firestones?


Goose

 

Aha pull down on the TOP of the dust cover..got it....didnt feel wet but hand did come back dirty..

On the bumper test pushed down and it rebounded once....



Goose

 

Mine started leaking about 41,000 but was replaced under warranty.

 

Maybe it's front end alignment time, Firestones may have got worn-in slowly to keep feeling right..

 

Even though it was my post, I don't trust the bounce test. My 2008 seemed to only bounce once, but I could easily push and pull the old struts, like no resistance at all in either direction. I really went by oil stains and mileage, like I said earlier there is not much oil in the shocks to begin with and most of the wear is to seals and valves on the inside. Have you seen the ads for one of the major brands that says replace shocks & struts every 50K ?