I bought my 2010 Escape with about 60K miles. About a year later at 90K I feel that it wallows over dips and bumps a lot more and squats a lot more under braking and acceleration vs when I bought it it felt a lot tighter. I do treat this vehicle pretty harshly and California roads suck, so I suspect I need shocks. How long do they usually last? My coworker at the parts store thinks any factory shock would be toast by 90K miles, "especially the way you drive". Should I get OEM shocks or a set of KYBs? I want to avoid Monroe because they SUCK!
How long do shocks last?
- Thread starter dogememe
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Lifespan of shocks can vary considerably depending on driving conditions.
The good news is that Ford now offers Motorcraft quick struts for your Escape. So you can get the Motorcraft quick struts along wioth the Motorcraft rear shocks and have new OE again
That said, KYB makes good quick struts, too. Pair them with a set of KYB Gas-a-Just shocks for the rear.
The good news is that Ford now offers Motorcraft quick struts for your Escape. So you can get the Motorcraft quick struts along wioth the Motorcraft rear shocks and have new OE again
That said, KYB makes good quick struts, too. Pair them with a set of KYB Gas-a-Just shocks for the rear.
My Rav4 is still on the original shocks and struts. They are in great shape. Saw a newish Caddilac yesterday that was bouncing up and down every time it hit a little bump. Guess it all depends....
I put Monroe quick struts in my old Corolla. Yeah, they sucked.
I put Monroe quick struts in my old Corolla. Yeah, they sucked.
I believe KYB has lifetime warranty (check the details). I put KYBs on one of my cars a few years back, still working great, no issues with installation and no issues with ride quality or quality in general, I recommend them.
If you could go OE though I'd go OE.
I would also never install anything other than quick struts if it's an assembly that has a spring also, it's just not worth the hassle to deal with anything else. If as slacktide said, they have Motorcraft quick struts? That would be a no brainer for me.
If you could go OE though I'd go OE.
I would also never install anything other than quick struts if it's an assembly that has a spring also, it's just not worth the hassle to deal with anything else. If as slacktide said, they have Motorcraft quick struts? That would be a no brainer for me.
Another vote for "it varies". Weight of vehicle, road quality, driving habits and shock quality. At 90k sounds like you're in for a new set.
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
Not nearly as long as people want to think. With all due respect any vehicle with 370K miles needs new suspension.
The fade to failure is so gradual for most cars, the owner will not notice unless the shock starts a gross leak.
How long do shocks last? In most cases.... they last as long as you want them to. My current vehicle has 300k miles on it and the shocks are fine. I would probably notice a difference if I installed a new set but the old ones are good enough.
Our rule of thumb here is....when you replace tires that have worn out, that axle gets shocks. For some perspective, we don't rotate tires because we generally buy different tires for drive and steer axles so front shocks are in service as long as a set of steer tires lasts (50 to 100k depending on application). If it's a vehicle that eats front tires...chances are the whole front end is working hard so shocks and tires together seems to work. For light duty strut type applications (cars etc) we do rotate tires and will do struts and shocks when all 4 tires come off generally.
I sold 2 Hondas with 200K miles each and both had the original shocks. No irregular tire wear or noises from struts/shocks.
The roads around here are nice compared to Northern states. The suspension doesn't get beat up the way cars up north with all the pot holes.
The roads around here are nice compared to Northern states. The suspension doesn't get beat up the way cars up north with all the pot holes.
Patman
Staff member
Originally Posted by PiperOne
Our rule of thumb here is....when you replace tires that have worn out, that axle gets shocks. For some perspective, we don't rotate tires because we generally buy different tires for drive and steer axles so front shocks are in service as long as a set of steer tires lasts (50 to 100k depending on application). If it's a vehicle that eats front tires...chances are the whole front end is working hard so shocks and tires together seems to work. For light duty strut type applications (cars etc) we do rotate tires and will do struts and shocks when all 4 tires come off generally.
You change your struts and shocks every time you buy tires? That sounds like a huge waste of money.
Our rule of thumb here is....when you replace tires that have worn out, that axle gets shocks. For some perspective, we don't rotate tires because we generally buy different tires for drive and steer axles so front shocks are in service as long as a set of steer tires lasts (50 to 100k depending on application). If it's a vehicle that eats front tires...chances are the whole front end is working hard so shocks and tires together seems to work. For light duty strut type applications (cars etc) we do rotate tires and will do struts and shocks when all 4 tires come off generally.
You change your struts and shocks every time you buy tires? That sounds like a huge waste of money.
Originally Posted by PiperOne
Our rule of thumb here is....when you replace tires that have worn out, that axle gets shocks. For some perspective, we don't rotate tires because we generally buy different tires for drive and steer axles so front shocks are in service as long as a set of steer tires lasts (50 to 100k depending on application). If it's a vehicle that eats front tires...chances are the whole front end is working hard so shocks and tires together seems to work. For light duty strut type applications (cars etc) we do rotate tires and will do struts and shocks when all 4 tires come off generally.
On that schedule, on one car I'd be replacing shocks at
A maintenance schedule appropriate to the vehicle and it's use, is what I go with.
Our rule of thumb here is....when you replace tires that have worn out, that axle gets shocks. For some perspective, we don't rotate tires because we generally buy different tires for drive and steer axles so front shocks are in service as long as a set of steer tires lasts (50 to 100k depending on application). If it's a vehicle that eats front tires...chances are the whole front end is working hard so shocks and tires together seems to work. For light duty strut type applications (cars etc) we do rotate tires and will do struts and shocks when all 4 tires come off generally.
On that schedule, on one car I'd be replacing shocks at
A maintenance schedule appropriate to the vehicle and it's use, is what I go with.
Originally Posted by AZjeff
With all due respect any vehicle with 370K miles needs new suspension.
Yeah, I have to agree.
With all due respect any vehicle with 370K miles needs new suspension.
Yeah, I have to agree.
If you plan to keep the car, KGB's are a great choice; Bilsteins are even better if the fit your budget.
You ride, steering and safety will thank you.
Unfortunately, OE suspension tends to be lower quality...
Go for it!
You ride, steering and safety will thank you.
Unfortunately, OE suspension tends to be lower quality...
Go for it!
Originally Posted by JeffKeryk
If you plan to keep the car, KGB's are a great choice; Bilsteins are even better if the fit your budget.
You ride, steering and safety will thank you.
Unfortunately, OE suspension tends to be lower quality...
Go for it!
Thanks, but I couldn't find KGB shocks anywhere. This being America and all.
I'm not gonna buy from RockAuto but do these seem sensible?
![[Linked Image]](http://i.imgur.com/0wfr9f5.jpg "[Linked Image]")
If you plan to keep the car, KGB's are a great choice; Bilsteins are even better if the fit your budget.
You ride, steering and safety will thank you.
Unfortunately, OE suspension tends to be lower quality...
Go for it!
Thanks, but I couldn't find KGB shocks anywhere. This being America and all.
I'm not gonna buy from RockAuto but do these seem sensible?
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Blistein are excellent shocks and warranted lifetime. When shocks need replacing, do it once with Blistein. One view.
When I sold my Lincoln Town Car at 300k miles it had the original shocks. No issues with the front end and it and rode great. Only did alignments when tires went on.
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