Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Strut, checking while removed
Faulty struts are noticeable when driving due to loud rumbling noises - a result of wheel hopping - especially on poor stretches of road. Moreover, they can be recognized by a large loss of oil.
- Struts are maintenance-free, shock absorber oil cannot be topped off.
A removed strut can be checked by hand as follows:
- Press strut together by hand.
- Piston rods must move smoothly and with uniform difficulty over the entire range
- Release piston rods.
- On struts with sufficient gas pressure, piston rods return to initial position by themselves.
- If this is not the case, strut must be replaced. As long as there is no large loss of oil, the mode of operation corresponds to that of a conventional strut.
- The damping function is also completely available without gas pressure, as long as there is no large loss of oil. However, noise may increase.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.