Shock absorber “blown”

[wdfifteen]

What does that mean to you?
To me I’m thinking there is a big hole in it or some other kind of catastrophic failure.

Took my Tundra in for its 40k mile service. The service writer reported that a shock absorber was “blown.” WTF does that mean? After a few questions I got it out of him that it was leaking, and it is - bad. But it’s leaking, a fairly benign failure mode. It needs to be replaced.
I think the use of this scary sounding description of the problem is intended to make people make snap decisions about needed repairs. I’m sure there are people who would be, “BLOWN! OMG! Can you save my truck? Should I trade it in? Do you have a rental I can use?”
“blown” sells more shock absorbers than “leaking.”
The estimate was $155 to replace ONE shock absorber (but he recommends doing both - $250). I bought a pair of Monroes for $120. It’s a half hour job and don’t even have to jack the truck up.

[stomachmonkey]

Common term for something that's shot, no longer functioning as it should.

I use it all the time.

[Jrboulder]

There's definitely a cost associated with not knowing enough about a subject, and an opportunity cost of gaining that knowledge. Realistically a lot of people are probably better off just paying it.

I tried to stop wrenching on my cars, sold most of my tools, then I got a quote for like $560 to do the front brakes on my BMW and as if the 50% parts markup wasn't enough they were charging $29 for a wear sensor that I know the pad set came with. Back to Harbor Freight.

[Icemaster]

Originally Posted by Jrboulder

There's definitely a cost associated with not knowing enough about a subject, and an opportunity cost of gaining that knowledge.

I tried to stop wrenching on my cars, sold most of my tools, then I got a quote for like $560 to do the front brakes on my BMW and as if the 50% parts markup wasn't enough they were charging $29 for a wear sensor that I know the pad set came with. Back to Harbor Freight.

This.

My kids can have or sell my tools when I'm dead.

[cabmandone]

Maybe it has a supercharger?

[Sooner or later]

Blown seal

[masraum]

To me a blown seal is a seal that no longer, uh, seals, aka, it leaks.

To me, a shock should be a sealed system whether it's a gas charged shock or an oil filled shock, if the gas has escaped, or the oil is leaking out, then it's leaking, and therefore, blown.

To me, a shock that's blown is pretty catastrophic for a shock, compared to just high miles and no longer damping as much as it used to due to wear on the inside.

Still, a blown shock is not that big a deal. You can drive cars with no shocks at all (assuming they are shocks and not struts or coilovers).

To me, worn shocks aren't leaking and/or haven't lost their gas charge, but may need to be replaced. Blown shocks are leaking gas or oil (or both) and need to be replaced

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by Sooner or later

Blown seal

This. Seal goes bad, Gas charge blows out followed by oil.

[fastfredracing]

I call a shock absorber " blown " when it is either leaking fluid, or has leaked all its fluid out, and no longer dampens .

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Sooner or later

Blown seal

Naw, just a little ice cream.

[Arizona_928]

They wouldn't be doing their jobs if they didn't include buzz words, and dramatization. my old service advisor wouldn't even look me in the eye... He needed the ass lube that day...

[fastfredracing]

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/a5d84019-29da-4c9d-b73c-61bfd714704d#rygzkPyJoE.copy

[DanielDudley]

I'm afraid your shock has been euphemized. It's going to cost you extra.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by DanielDudley

I'm afraid your shock has been euphemized. It's going to cost you extra.

Was in Lowes or HD years ago getting a lock "changed" to match the tumblers on my existing locks. Just casually watching the guy as he was gonna (in his words)...."blow the lock"....then he disassembled it.

Never knew I was a demolitions guy too before that day....

Blew my mind

[onewhippedpuppy]

I have used the term before. Also said that a seal was blown and leaking. So I guess that’s consistent?

[asphaltgambler]

Gentlemen............nothing more than automotive repair thea-tar............now for Act II.

[sammyg2]

back in the old days, unscrupulous mechanics would take an oil can and squirt oil on a car's shocks to convince the customer he needed to replace them even though they were fine.
A little oil on the shock and it was BLOWN!

They also probably used customer's cars for joyriding and running errands. everyone does it.

[GH85Carrera]

My MIL bought a new Mercedes at the local dealer. She would drive down the 90 miles from her place to spend the night with us, and "let" me take it to the dealership for the warranty work and service work. One time I left it, but the service order was written up in her name. Bertha is not the name of young women of today. They called me that afternoon and asked for Bertha, and I told them I was the one that brought it in and was her designated person to get the car serviced. The guy on the phone started reading the list of issues, and said the brakes and front struts were shot, and it was going to cost a few grand to fix. I told them do not touch the brakes, or any of that, just do the service for that interval.

When I got her car home I pulled the wheels and inspected the brakes and they had 80% of the pad. The struts were fine. She drove the car a total of 75,000 miles before selling it and getting a different vehicle. It still had those OEM brakes on it and the light for worn brakes still had not come on. That service writer was just trying to make money off of a old lady.

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

back in the old days, unscrupulous mechanics would take an oil can and squirt oil on a car's shocks to convince the customer he needed to replace them even though they were fine.
A little oil on the shock and it was BLOWN!

They also probably used customer's cars for joyriding and running errands. everyone does it.

I have witnessed this first hand. And this is not how it is done. Totally wrong, dishonest, and unscrupulous . The test drive on the other hand

[fastfredracing]

This whole thread reminds me of this song .