Digging round under the car the other day I pulled out the remnants of a shock boot and they look like they’ve been that way for some time.
The shocks have definitely seen better days, so will need replacing at some point. Just wondering if the state of the boots matters much in the meantime? I don’t think it’s an MoT fail but I’ve not had a test since the new suspension boot rules, so I’m not sure if the shock boots are inspected now?
Also, while I’m here, if anybody has a source of new OEM-equivalent shockers for a poor-man’s price, I’m all ears!
Perished shock boots would be an advisory at worst, I’d have thought. They’re not like balljoint boots which actually keep muck out of lubricated joints. The shocks already have their own shaft seals, and some aftermarket coilovers etc don’t even bother with the boots.
I’ve just fitted a set of Sachs dampers (OE equivalent, and Sachs is a well-known brand and part of ZF) which I got from 123spareparts.co.uk. The shocks actually came from Germany. Total cost £227.14 including four new boots and p&p. Seem very good so far, in combination with new Autolink sports springs. I decided I’d had enough of the stiff-spring coilover world.
Aftermarket replacement Bilsteins are not the same as Mazda supplied Bilsteins; in fact, they are meant to be softer than stock Showa.
Monroe, Sachs (Boge); much the same. I fitted Sachs-Boge shocks to a XJS, The ride was no where near as good as the original Jag. I suspect aftermarket Sachs are not the same asthat supplied to the factories. And beware of counterfeit parts (stupidly cheap parts). Sachs have issued warnings on counterfeit parts, and it doesn’t take long to find on the internet Chinese manufacturers supplying Sachs-branded shocks.
A Sachs shock made by the “Quanzhou Ruisheng Machinery Industry Co., Ltd”. Confusingly, Sachs actually have several shock absorber factories in China; Shanghai Sachs Huizhong and ZF Dongfeng. OE Sachs/Monroes are probably ok for a couple of years, before they start going off.
Considering the prices you’ve been quoted (if they can actually get them in for that price…), then Autolink’s prices seem indefensible; £60 plus VAT for somey mystery unbranded shock. The shocks you found are probably better than the used rubbish being sold by some of the MX5 parts specialists for the same money.
For cheap boots; people in the past have used generic motorbike shock absorber gaiters, zip-tied to the bumpstop (the stock bumpstop/gaiters don’t fit most aftermarket shocks anyhow.
Only Konis don’t really need gaiters. If your shocks are old, its not worth fitting gaiters to them; start saving for shocks.
A few years ago, you could have taken a chance with a set of used Bilsteins; Krupps reckon these will dyno at over 90% of new spec after 200k kms, but used sets are now pretty old; most will be about 20 years old.
I think I’ll forget about the boots - the shocks are pretty old, so it’s past the point where it might matter. As long as MoT man doesn’t care, I don’t…I’ll save my pennies instead.
Also my ride is plenty firm enough already, even a little too skittish. Trouble is, I’m not sure what shocks I have (or springs for that matter) I’m only assuming OEM or equivalent…could be stiffer than standard, or cheap aftermarket (but they’re definitely non-adjustable whatever they are). I also have silly 16" wheels and ancient bushes…and I don’t know how much of the ride I have at the moment is down to the shocks versus anything else. So all in all it would be a bit of a mystery what would happen with whatever I moved to.
Either way, I’m not after an ‘upgrade’ - just some good quality shocks that will work well and last well, for as little cash as possible. If these Bilsteins are just ‘standard’ shocks from a good manufacturer, they might fit the bill.
Now Victor, I feel inclined to add my two pennyworth! The protective gaiters on shock absorbers , are in my opinion, not so much important as vital. They protect the rams and seals from water, salt, road grit, you name it. I well remember many moons ago, when Ford amongst many others who used the McPherson strut suspension, did not fit them from new. The corrosion and abrasion to the rams and seals was rapid to say the least. Very good for the replacement trade! I realise that seals etc. have improved over the years, or have they? Any protection for hydraulic seals is, in my opinion, not to be ignored. Personally I would not run my car without them.
Not worth replacing the gaiters on 20 year old shocks that may go pop any day. Norman Garrett, who had a big hand in the design of the MX5 chassis, rather pessimistically recommends that owners consider changing the stock Showa shocks from about 60k miles, if they want to preserve the car’s handling characteristics.
Yeah, if they were younger, I’d replace the boots for sure, but by the time I’ve got the blighters out, apart and back on again - especially given I’ll need to borrow a ramp and spring compressors - I may as well just replace them.
I’d like to identify them before I start thinking about replacement though as it’d be good to know where I’m starting from. Might try to get some pics tomorrow and see if anyone knows what they are.
