Life expectancy of stock oem shocks

[TMurt]

Does anyone know when to replace the stock non sline OEM shocks? Are there any easy ways to tell? I have heard anything from 40k to 100k+ on other sites involving oem shocks. I bought the car with 52k miles on it so can't tell how it feels compared to new. The car is a 3.2 with 57k miles on it. Thanks

[Der Konig]

Mine are making weird noises so replacing at 59k

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

Typically when shocks start to get warn you will notice the "solid" feeling of the car starts to disappear. It will be a little more bouncy, lean more in corners, etc.

Some may go by mileage but it really depends on the road conditions, how much weight is in the car constantly, things like this also play into effect on how much life you will get out of the suspension.

Jason

[TMurt]

Do you guys know any easy tests to check the wear? Like
Rocking it or something? My problem is that I don't know how the car spent it's first 52k miles. I'm doubting highway miles because the long term mpg was only 19.5 when we bought it.

[Ves]

its kinda more of a personal thing, certain people will tell you that you should replace/upgrade when you start to get super bouncy and it feels like nothing is there, and some people will tell you its still ok. it really just depends on your tolerance for ride quality

[bskis1080]

I'm doubting highway miles because the long term mpg was only 19.5 when we bought it.

it could still be a lot of highway miles, although the trip odometer or whatever on the center screen may say like 5000 miles the mpg estimate only takes into account the last 29 miles or something on our cars. I think this is different on the B8 but im pretty sure this is the case for b7's

[TMurt]

Really? I didn't know that. And I assume it was a fair amount of highway because the first owner put about 15k miles per year on it. The ride seems fine still but I just don't have a reference point.

[Brillo]

although the trip odometer or whatever on the center screen may say like 5000 miles the mpg estimate only takes into account the last 29 miles or something on our cars.

Unless I've misinterpreted what you've said, I do not believe this is correct. For the 'miles left in the tank' calculation it might be right, but for the average miles per gallon it is the miles traveled divided by the gallons used since the last reset up to 9999 miles, at least it is for my '08. I never reset the #2 trip computer so the average miles per gallon changes very slowly regardless of how crazy or conservatively I drive.

[TMurt]

^^^thats what I thought. The car said 9999 so might not have been reset for much longer. Either way it was less than a 20 mpg average. So it either had a lot of city miles or highway traffic. I believe the car came from a Charlotte, NC carmax dealer. Don't know much about that area though.

[bskis1080]

yea i could be wrong maybe i was just thinking range because i know that calculation is based off of like the last 20. i know my b8 uses the entire 9999 or whatever i just havent looked through that menu recently on my b7

[IllusionalTA]

108k on my stockerS.. Still goin strong..

[TMurt]

Wow, 110k is intense. I'm kind of looking for an excuse to replace them and get new springs as well because I don't even have the s line package. Wheel gap kills me everyday haha

[IllusionalTA]

I have h&r's.. No wheel gap here ;)

[Tachyon]

lol on my Nissan 240sx I had 240K miles on my stock struts and they rode fine. Its been quite the change moving from a Japanese car to a German car...

[TMurt]

I have h&r's.. No wheel gap here ;)

On stock shocks? I've heard that kills the shocks, or are you on S line shocks?

[TMurt]

lol on my Nissan 240sx I had 240K miles on my stock struts and they rode fine. Its been quite the change moving from a Japanese car to a German car...

Wow that's impressive. Japanese reliabilty vs german perfrmance though haha

[A 4 Awesome]

I have a set of OEM shocks for sale. PM for details.

[wootwoot]

Do the shocks really go out that fast? I have never needed to change shocks on any japanese import that I owned.

[TMurt]

Do the shocks really go out that fast? I have never needed to change shocks on any japanese import that I owned.

I'm betting that on average driving the shocks will go between 125k and 150k miles but I don't know. I'm just looking for something else to justify getting a new set of shocks and springs to lower mine. $1200 can't be justified for a 1.5 inch drop only in my opinion, unlesss you don't know what else to do with it

[A4_Ti]

Drive at night, hit a bump. You should see the lights on the road bounce with the bump, settle out and return to normal quickly. If your shocks are worn they'll continue to bounce for a few seconds.

Notice the lack of definitive timeline, use that to "justify" buying new shocks and springs... you know you want them

[Chb04]

Mine had 108'000 and just replace with Bilstein Sprt shocks and new H&R springs. LOVE IT!

[TMurt]

Drive at night, hit a bump. You should see the lights on the road bounce with the bump, settle out and return to normal quickly. If your shocks are worn they'll continue to bounce for a few seconds.

Notice the lack of definitive timeline, use that to "justify" buying new shocks and springs... you know you want them

Very true haha. I have been paying attention to all the bumps, at least in the daytime. But unfortunately my shocks still seem too damn good to get rid of. Then again...

[A4_Ti]

Very true haha. I have been paying attention to all the bumps, at least in the daytime. But unfortunately my shocks still seem too damn good to get rid of. Then again...

Just tell people you noticed blinker fluid under your car so clearly you have to replace your shocks

[null]

Got my OEM shocks + springs removed at 65K and put in FSDs + Eibach. Nothing was wrong with the shocks..in fact i'm selling them - $50, anyone ?