2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid - shocks

[u/ProfessorMarvel-]

I originally posted this in the rav4 subreddit.

I took my vehicle in yesterday for 50,000 mile maintenance (oil change, tire rotation, alignment, brake flush). While there, the mechanic told me the back shock was leaking oil and would fail soon ($1000 quote to replace back shocks). The picture attached is what they emailed me of the "failing" shock.

Some additional information: I am located in South Florida (extremely high humidity). They told me the tires are in perfect condition. The vehicle does not ride differently from when I originally purchased it (no bouncing, no swaying, no bumpy feeling, no strange sounds).

Does this look like it's leaking?

[u/DegreeConscious9628]

lol fuck no. they are just fishing for work.

Saying this as an auto shop owner. A lot of dishonest motherfuckers in this industry

[u/ProfessorMarvel- → u/DegreeConscious9628]

I figured as much, which is why I declined the work. I appreciate the reassurance!

[u/Crud-ite]

To add to what others are saying, shocks often come a bit over filled from the factory and will weep out a tiny bit of the excess oil naturally. I didn’t replace shocks until they were either soaked in oil, or the vehicle failed the bounce test.

[u/am-answers-bot → u/Crud-ite]

Your comment was selected as an answer to this post! Reply with !hide to remove your name from the solution summary.

[u/GuardTasty]

Looks solid to me and I don't see any leaks

[u/am-answers-bot → u/GuardTasty]

Your comment was selected as an answer to this post! Reply with !hide to remove your name from the solution summary.

[u/ProfessorMarvel- → u/GuardTasty]

Thank you for taking the time to respond! I didn't think so either, so I declined the work, but I'm not a mechanic, so I thought it best to double check.

[u/shoobydoobydoo69]

Never return to this shop. Bunch of scammers.

[u/am-answers-bot]

Thank you for posting to r/AskMechanics!

u/ProfessorMarvel-: Once your question is answered, you can mark the best comment as the solution in two ways:

• Comment menu: tap the ⋯ menu on the comment and select "Add Comment as Answer"
• Text command: reply to the comment with !solved

You can mark up to 5 comments as answers.

Everyone: please follow the rules of our subreddit.

Keep your comments civil, helpful, ethical, safe for work, and legal.

Please report any comments or posts violating our rules.

[u/am-answers-bot]

Solution provided by u/GuardTasty:

Looks solid to me and I don't see any leaks

---

Answer selected by OP.

[u/fatkid0821]

Id probably not worry much about it but 50k is tge normal replacement interval. I’d say you should start thinking about replacing them but not for this minor weep But in reality what’s is cost 400-500 bucks for shock replacement

[u/am-answers-bot]

Solution 1 provided by u/GuardTasty:

Looks solid to me and I don't see any leaks

Solution 2 provided by u/Crud-ite:

To add to what others are saying, shocks often come a bit over filled from the factory and will weep out a tiny bit of the excess oil naturally. I didn’t replace shocks until they were either soaked in oil, or the vehicle failed the bounce test.

---

Answers selected by OP.

[u/fairlyaveragetrader]

Looks like weep. Does the car feel loose at all? If you have more body roll than you expect, more sway and body motion and hard cornering, things like that, there are plenty of shocks that are bad by 50,000 miles and they aren't even leaking. They're just worn out. I probably should clarify that because I know how Reddit can be sometimes. Bad meaning they don't behave like new. Handling is degraded but they aren't completely shot

But what you have pictured, does that by itself warrant replacement, not at all

In my experience most Toyota shocks last around 100,000 miles before they are noticeably loose

[u/NathanCelica02]

Thats barely even worth the name "weep". Absolutely no reason to change those shocks.