Audi Workshop Service and Repair Manuals

Shock absorbers are often replaced on the basis of complaints about leakage. Test bench and on-the-vehicle studies have revealed that in the majority of cases the complaints received did not justify this action.

The emergence of slight traces of oil ("sweating") at the piston rod seal does not represent grounds for shock absorber replacement. Such oil presence on the shock absorber is acceptable in the following cases:

• ◆ → Oil emerging is visible (hatched area in illustration), but is dull and matt and possibly also dry and dust-coated
• ◆ Emergence of oil is only observed in the range between upper shock absorber seal (piston rod oil seal) and lower spring plate -arrow-