Split shock absorber dust covers and boots

ginashamz

Hi,

My wife's car failed it MOT on split dust covers and dust boots on both sides of the dampers, and no longer prevents ingress of dirt.

Can the dust cover and boot be replaced by itself instead of the shock absorber or are the dust covers/boots sized to match the specific shock? I am hoping you can guy any dust cover and dust boot that's a universal size and can fit any shock.
The car is a Merc 2007 CLK.

wgl2014

They can be replaced and are a separate part to the shock absorber.

A quick Google gives: https://m.buycarparts.co.uk/sachs/1231042?grmk=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwwJrbBRAoEiwAGA1B_QqPRbhwhSYGCXE069Ep5F27Si3mmgKDycG3G9LdMUWvsyVIRq7mxxoCWNsQAvD_BwE

Bear in mind that the shock needs removing to fit the cover, if you are doing this yourself then fine, if paying a garage consider if either the shocks, top mounts or droplininks are coming up for replacement and get the relevant parts changed all at once to save on labour.

ginashamz

wgl2014 wrote: »

They can be replaced and are a separate part to the shock absorber.

A quick Google gives: https://m.buycarparts.co.uk/sachs/1231042?grmk=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwwJrbBRAoEiwAGA1B_QqPRbhwhSYGCXE069Ep5F27Si3mmgKDycG3G9LdMUWvsyVIRq7mxxoCWNsQAvD_BwE

Bear in mind that the shock needs removing to fit the cover, if you are doing this yourself then fine, if paying a garage consider if either the shocks, top mounts or droplininks are coming up for replacement and get the relevant parts changed all at once to save on labour.

I will be doing the job myself. How can I be sure that those Sachs dust covers and boots from the link you provide will fit the shocks firmly on my wife's car? As I can tell, the shocks are Bilstein.

wgl2014

It tells you what models they fit in the description.

If you want to be sure look up the OEM part code and Google that. If you can't find the part number ask on a dedicated MB forum, there should be someone who will know...

Joe_Horner

Shock absorber dust covers / boots aren't part of the test - just double checked the new manual to make sure they haven't changed that & they haven't:

https://www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/manuals/class3457/Section-5-Axles-Wheels-Tyres-and-Suspension.html#section_5.3

Fails for shock absorbers are: insecure / missing / likely to become detached / damaged to the extent that it doesn't work or shows serious leakage. Anything else is, at worst, a pass & advise.

Damaged boots only apply to suspension joints, transmission shafts and steering racks / ball joints.

Was it definitely the shock absorber boots they failed on? If so you should query it with the garage.

arcon5

Ye I was thinking that. Never known shock dust covers be part of the test.

ginashamz

Thanks all for the reply. The failure was actually for a broken dust cover on one of the suspension joints (this is going to be replaced fully) but one of the advisories was the split dust covers and boots on the front shock absorbers which I would like to replace.

Would the split dust cover damage the shock absorber? Will it reduce its life? Is it important to replace?

EdGasketTheSecond

Probably not but if you are worried, just smear some Tiger Seal over the split:


https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=tiger+seal&index=aps&!!!!!googhydr-21&ref=pd_sl_1nzd304zrj_e&adgrpid=53699481056&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=259093271447&hvpos=1t1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15608533813914586387&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045888&hvtargid=kwd-302105337811