hey guys l went to mavis discount tires for a tire balance.beware, those guys tried to rip me off.l flushed my power steering fluid with a clear good fluid like a week ago. my fluid is clear as water now. they told me my power steering fluid needs to be changed because it was contaminated and looks black and l told them no thank you l changed it a week ago.LOL. afterwards they told me my rear shocks were leaking. is there any visible signs of leaks that can be seen on the rear shocks because l know my shocks are still in good shape.

 

You can drive around a week or so then look at them. If you see fluid on the shaft, maybe they are leaking. If not, keep driving. When your shocks get bad, you will feel them get bouncy or to stiff.

 

What fluid is it you used that is clear in the power steering ??

If you just used regular "Power Steering Fluid" that wouldn't be the right fluid for your Volvo. Volvo specifies automatic transmission fluid which would have a pink color to it. Mine says to use ATF "Type F". It might not make a difference but then again it might not be compatible with the seals in the pump or rack and could cause you some trouble in the future with leaks or excessive steering effort.

Either way it shouldn't be black in a week and still be working so they likely were just trying to sell a flush.

If the shocks are leaking they will seep oil past the seal for the shaft and down the outside of the shock.

 

like Kiss4afrog said, the oil leaks out of the shock & runs down the side. I drove my 850 for about a year with a bad shock, didn't bother me what so ever & I didn't notice it until the car was on the lift for the annual inspection.

 

The shocks in our S70 were so bad that the car was bouncing around like a bunny rabbit. Dangerous around bumpy curves. It now has Bilsteins on the front and Monroe's on the rear.

The wagon has OEM shocks. They are a little harsh right now. I think I'm going to replace them with Bilsteins all the way around when someone hits the loto and gives me all the money.

 

AND ,,, since you ran into a shop trying to sell you a flush you should also know a little leakage (depends on who you ask) is ok. If it's starting to run down the shock the shock is leaking more than it should and needs to be replaced before you fell like you're back on that rocking horse from your childhood.

Even if you have "gas" shocks in most cases it's gas over oil and the pressurized gas just helps keep the oil from foaming. As you lose the oil the shock is losing the ability to control the bouncing from the springs.

 

l use regular power steering fluid. l used preston power steering fluid.l guess l would have to flush it again with ATF? why ATF

 

I'd flush it if I were you. You might want to check your owners manual just in case yours is different and calls for regular power steering fluid but if some engineer specified it there is likely a reason.

Again, you might be just fine with what you have but I don't know the difference between ATF and power steering fluid as it relates to a Volvo's system.

Someone, anyone know ??????