How do I test the shocks?

[kitra]

We just returned from a 3350 mile road trip and our 1999 Mountaineer did great. It's got 81K+ miles on it. We bought it new in January of 1999. The shocks are original. Driving this 6-day trip, it felt great on dips, valleys, and washboard roads showing no evidence of poor dampening. But I would think the shocks would be tired by now? And good tests? Maybe I need to test them removed from the vehicle? Just curious. The Mercury Dealer told me the Mountaineer's came with Bilstein Shocks but mine are painted black and I always thought Bilstein's were painted yellow? Thanks again as always.

 

[IZwack]

jump while standing on the bumper - the vehicle's suspension should compress. If the vehicle's bumper oscillates more than half a cycle, the shocks need to be replaced.

 

[eXcali]

It's the good old fashioned "bounce test." If you have 80k+ I'd change them out, if nothing else they are 10y/o now and pretty good chance that the seals in it are worn. Shocks go out gradually, it's not something you would notice while driving from day to day.

Compress the suspension at each corner of the vehicle, let it go fast and count the bounces. Ideally it should come back to the correct lvl immediately and stop, but if it bounces slightly past stock height and settles there is no real concern. If it bounces beyond this the shocks are bad.

 

[gijoecam]

{snip}....The shocks are original.... {snip}

Say no more. They're long-since shot, and probably have been for at least 6 or 7 years. The stock shocks are, at best, marginal when they're new, and seldom damp worth a fart after 30,000 miles.

Bilstein was not a Ford supplier. The dealer's wrong. In most cases, they were built by Monroe (Tenneco Automotive) to Ford's specs. They're nothing exotic. However, Bilsteins make a decent replacement.

 

[SeekerLazarus]

I just replaced my originals at 34000 and they were shot, yours are long dead enjoy the ride after you change them.

 

[ThePhoenix]

and seldom damp worth a fart after 30,000 miles.

LOL...Lord knows I have tried that theory