Dust Covers!

[Chilli Girl]

So, after a visual health check, it seems Foxy has two front shock absorber dust covers that have split.  It's not classed as an MOT advisory and no great panic to rectify BUT many of you know I like to keep my cars in good shape. What's a reasonable price for this job to be done, I would think it's more labour intensive than the part cost! And no I won't be attempting to do this myself, out of my league I'm afraid

[Bossworld]

Depends on how stuck everything is but should hopefully be two hours tops.

Needs the struts removing, which involves removing drop links and then they need to take the top mounts off to change out the dust covers.

If they were going at it and have a lift I guess it could be done within an hour?

[1979scotte]

I know this goes against the grain Jane but not sure its worth 2 hours labour for a couple of dust caps.

[Chilli Girl]

Hmmm, but don't they protect the shocks from crap getting in and corroding eventually? Perhaps I'm getting abit anal in my old age.

[Carolyn]

How many miles on Foxy?

[Chilli Girl]

A tad over 65k Carolyn

[Joesson]

I'm guessing what's coming next!

[Topdownman]

You can get coilover socks which just velcro around the outside of the spring as an alternative.

Never tried them myself so dont know if they work or not but you could fit those yourself as presumably you just need to take the wheel off and wrap them round?

[Carolyn]

A bit soon for a set of shocks...

I'd leave -em and wait for the shocks to get tired. Say another 15,000?

The way you look after her, she'll be fine.

[Ardent]

@Chilli Girl

Agree with all the above. Not worth the trouble and certainly not the expense.
Consider doing, when shocks need doing.

[1979scotte]

If you weren't considering selling id say do shocks now tbh.
I know Carolyn will disagree but she is from a far more frugal generation than me.

[Topdownman]

Scott makes a good point there, if you are keeping the car then it makes sense to have fresh suspension now rather than say another year on 15 yr old suspension. You are only going to refresh the suspension on your car once so there is definitely an argument to do it sooner rather than later!

[Petrus]

I know this goes against the grain Jane but not sure its worth 2 hours labour for a couple of dust caps.

Imo it is not.
Just about all rear shocks of motorcycles are exposed and nearly all front fork stanchions; even on dirt bikes.
When split it is better to remove them altogether so they tráp no dirt and that can be done quite easily with a bit of fiddling.

[Chilli Girl]

That's very true Petrus, if I'd thought and looked at my bike it may've helped me not to be that concerned. Silly me!  My bikes on 40k plus miles and still on it's original shocks after 21 years and still going strong! I'll jack Foxy up and remove the scruffy covers when this damn weather becomes drier!

[Joesson]

As above I'm of the opinion leave well enough alone. Certainly not worth replacing just the dust covers if paying garage rates, that would be the same labour cost as replacing the shocks and as Carolyn said another 15 k in them.
Thank you @Carolyn my shocks are at a similar mileage and the dust covers are in a sorry state but no mention on the MOT in September.
As on @Bossworld recent posts different tester different point of view.

[Joesson]

That's very true Petrus, if I'd thought and looked at my bike it may've helped me not to be that concerned. Silly me!  My bikes on 40k plus miles and still on it's original shocks after 21 years and still going strong! I'll jack Foxy up and remove the scruffy covers when this damn weather becomes drier!

And support her securely / with axle stands!

[Chilli Girl]

Yep, got those Tony, thank you.

[Petrus]

That's very true Petrus, if I'd thought and looked at my bike it may've helped me not to be that concerned. Silly me!  My bikes on 40k plus miles and still on it's original shocks after 21 years and still going strong! I'll jack Foxy up and remove the scruffy covers when this damn weather becomes drier!

and as a bonus it looks a lot better too imo, even on a car


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[paulj]

If you weren't considering selling id say do shocks now tbh.
I know Carolyn will disagree but she is from a far more frugal generation than me.

I've started doing "backwards maths" on the 2.  My shocks have been replaced this year but the maths for you would go....

The original lasted 65k already. Am I expecting to do more than another 65k?  If not, and money allows, change now and enjoy the as-new feeling sooner.