padraf

I'm looking to buy some used shocks and would like to know what you guys would suggest I Look for in terms of reliability.

The obvious things are visible rust spots.. Any other suggestions?

Troy

personally i wouldnt buy used shocks from even people i know unless its new

padraf

well that doesn't really help very much. You must also be very rich otherwise your car must be pretty crappy.

Zeus Zore

..?? if you can afford the car you better afford the shocks !!! or buy a other car !!
thats what i think !! my shock cost 1000$ damn it hurts !! but was worth every penny !!!!!! used shocks ARE NOT the way 2 do it !!

sorry !! but thats what i think !!!

JeffS

You can't look at a shock and see if it's any good or not. If it's bad, you won't know it until you put it on the car, and then only if you know what you're doing.

Honestly, it sounds like you don't. I would never, ever, buy shocks used. You'd be much better off just going with a cheaper new shock than a potentially worn-out used one. The only exception might be if I knew the age of the shocks for a fact...

gtfourmn

Okay... this is what one of my boyz told me when buying used shocks:
First of all you should press the end down and see if it comes back up. If it does it it's still in working condition. How long?? That's the problem... you can't tell how long it'll last you after you buy it.

padraf

Well I know for a fact that these Shock have been used for one year and the previous owner has the recipts to prove it. Plus I know teh previous owner has only owned teh car for a little over oen year, so that just backs up his recipt.

I would way rather buy new shocks, but they're just not in my budget.

keep the comment coming guys

Plan B

You can buy a new set of KYB's GR2's for around $200 and they will last as long as you have the car.

GoLowDrew

Were the shocks on lowered springs? Avoid them.

Often times shocks, from expereience, can go "not as good" even without any signs. The damping just get's weaker and weaker until it gives out. I went through two sets of shocks because it was getting more weak. I could have sold them to some sucker, but I CANT do that. It looks fine, rides fine, and everything works. But it just doesn't work like when it was new, and good.

So in summary, a shock can goes from "weak" before it goes bad. When it's weak, 8 out of 10 situations you think it's still good.

From a consumer's point of view, you can't tell at all.

padraf

they are koni coilovers.

What I'm mainly looking for here are things I can do when I see the coilovers to test the reliability of them. I know there is now way of knowing 100%, but anything that could help me would really be appreciated

thanks

GoLowDrew

You say you know this guy. So how about this.

You buy it on the condition that you can test them out, like for 7 days ( or 100 miles). If you feel it's not strong (according to your concerns), then he will give you 90% of the money back. That way, you don't loose big.

If he really believe the stuff he sell is A+, then he would do it.

I see what you mean, we are not talking about $20 light bulbs here.

padraf

thanks man, Thats a really good idea.

Thanks for all the info everyone

IM2DVS4U

just buy new ones there not that exspensive