Is this normal?

[IJ.]

My comment about the bump stops has nothing to do with the boot failure, more in that if they're missing/split you can mechanically bottom the shock, this usually smashes the piston to death and you end up with a pogo stick...

Just something worth checking seeing as the boots have failed, it's possible that the bump stops came from the same vendor..

[Micks]

Yep I reckon you're right in regards to sh!t material

Had my front SSL kings with new Monroe gas struts, new oem bump stops, new oem boots for almost 4 yrs now & still as good as installed & no rips.

[mechatron]

Had my front SSL kings with new Monroe gas struts, new oem bump stops, new oem boots for almost 4 yrs now & still as good as installed & no rips.

Hmm...I wonder how long the warranty is on these shocks as I've only done 5000kms

[mechatron]

Good news....I spoke to the suspension mob who originally installed this setup and they're going to replace the boots at their cost even though the warranty period has expired. I just have to pay for the alignment which I thinks a fair compromise. They're also going to install black boots that are similar to the Holden factory ones

[duke5700]

Thats good customer service.

[mechatron]

Thats good customer service.

Yep definitely no complaints here. At the same time I can ask for more camber as my stereo has dropped the rear of my car significantly and as a result scrubs when cornering hard

[VLSteve]

Good news....I spoke to the suspension mob who originally installed this setup and they're going to replace the boots at their cost even though the warranty period has expired. I just have to pay for the alignment which I thinks a fair compromise. They're also going to install black boots that are similar to the Holden factory ones

Thats lucky.
I just noticed today one of the boots on my VZ has a tear in it. And guess what, it seems no bump stops were put in when the shop installed a set of Koni shocks a couple of years ago.
I wonder what I can do about that...

[Blown 454 AWD]

Well done a great outcome!

Looks to me like they sat in a showroom in the sun for a couple of years,

that rubber looks old and ragged, falling apart.

Great out come

Cheers

Steve

[mechatron]

Well done a great outcome!

Looks to me like they sat in a showroom in the sun for a couple of years,

that rubber looks old and ragged, falling apart.

Great out come

Cheers

Steve

Thanks Steve, I think you may be right. But regardless it's a good outcome due to great after sales service

[mechatron]

Thats lucky.
I just noticed today one of the boots on my VZ has a tear in it. And guess what, it seems no bump stops were put in when the shop installed a set of Koni shocks a couple of years ago.
I wonder what I can do about that...

Just talk to them mate. If they didn't put bump stops in there then they're at fault and they need to resolve the issue

[V28VX37]

Thanks for the info Mick. The other side has a slight hole and is likely to start tearing as well


What would cause them to tear like that? Rocks? Or just cheap material?

Is that a cable tie up there? It looks like both sides are ripping similarly at the top so maybe they don't like being chafed/scuffed against the cable tie? Or maybe the stretching is the issue?

I've got aftermarket BC coilovers and the dust boots are different, they just sit over the shock body and have a small hole for the piston i.e. they're not attached at the top so never get stretched. Perhaps that type works better?

Also good to hear that you're getting them replaced, running shocks without good dust boots is a no no, as soon as road dust/stones/chips gets into the piston seal it'll start leaking and kill the shock. Same deal with the steering rack too. Been there done that..

[mechatron]

Is that a cable tie up there? It looks like both sides are ripping similarly at the top so maybe they don't like being chafed/scuffed against the cable tie? Or maybe the stretching is the issue?

I've got aftermarket BC coilovers and the dust boots are different, they just sit over the shock body and have a small hole for the piston i.e. they're not attached at the top so never get stretched. Perhaps that type works better?

Also good to hear that you're getting them replaced, running shocks without good dust boots is a no no, as soon as road dust/stones/chips gets into the piston seal it'll start leaking and kill the shock. Same deal with the steering rack too. Been there done that..

Sorry bud, where do you see the cable tie? And yep I'm definitely happy that the boots will be replaced shortly...as they'll need to protect the piston from debris and other crap that could get in there

[V28VX37]

Sorry bud, where do you see the cable tie? And yep I'm definitely happy that the boots will be replaced shortly...as they'll need to protect the piston from debris and other crap that could get in there

This bit:


It looks like the dust boot is tied at the top, stretching it each time the suspension expands?

...

For contrast here's the BC Racing design, see how it attaches at the bottom only:

[mechatron]

This bit:


It looks like the dust boot is tied at the top, stretching it each time the suspension expands?

...

For contrast here's the BC Racing design, see how it attaches at the bottom only:

Yes it does look odd hey.

And nice one, I really like the looks of those BC Racing coil overs

[IJ.]

Factory boots are captured both ends, just need to be long enough for the shock stroke, maybe yours weren't...