Possible rear shocker failure?

[ex-Chinese Dave]

I hear every noise on my car and always suspect that something is starting to go on its way out. Here is the latest…

I noticed recently that I could hear a noise from the passenger side rear area when going over certain bumps in the road at certain speeds, usually below 15 mph . It sounds a little like the tailgate is open and you are hearing it knock up and down on the latch, or another way to describe it is like you have a large plastic container that is empty in the boot and it is bouncing around. The tailgate is totally secure, as is the bumper and all of a bits of trim at the rear of the car. Could this be the rear shock that has failed? I can’t see any obvious signs of any problem, but later I will Jack the car up and take the wheel off and have a closer inspection. Is there any way to check a shock while it’s on the car, such as any kind of measurements to be checked? The rear shocks are only about two years old and I guess that they have had less than 25,000 miles on them.

 

[MLB]

Not sure, but I believe they're known for failing quite quickly.

How's your ride? My car was always slightly moving left to right, needing constant corrections which turned out to be the rear shocks.

I believe I even still have a low mileage genuine set in the garage that I took off when I switched to coilovers.

 

[leeds2592]

Certainly sounds like it could be shocks. Just whip them off and have a check, will only take 20 mins

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

Certainly sounds like it could be shocks. Just whip them off and have a check, will only take 20 mins

How are they checked apart from the obvious signs of fluid leaks? Just push and pull?

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

Not sure, but I believe they're known for failing quite quickly.

How's your ride? My car was always slightly moving left to right, needing constant corrections which turned out to be the rear shocks.

I believe I even still have a low mileage genuine set in the garage that I took off when I switched to coilovers.

The ride feels fine but the noise is very slight. I only noticed it as it was different than before. I can drive over Asda's speed bumps slowly and there's nothing, but at the change of surface from tarmac to paving at 10mph it has me thinking there's an empty 25 litre plastic drum in the boot.

Probably jumping the gun a bit but what are your shocks worth?