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Rear shock failure in recent Escapes

My 2009 Escape has evident loss of fluid from the left rear shock. The vehicle, otherwise sound, produces thuds from the left rear if I traverse even mild potholes. My garagiste, an independent operator, took it to a Ford dealership for warranty service, only to be told that such leaks were "normal lubricative action" and was refused service. My garagiste wryly observed that I ought to point out that the other shock should be replaced under warranty because it does not have the "normal lubricative action."

Any similar stories out there? In Canada? How did you deal with them?

Reply to
Andrew Chaplin
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From what I've read at Escape-Central.com and elsewhere, it's pretty common for the rear shocks to fail early if the luggage area is hardly ever used and it is rarely taken off-road. I changed the rears out on my '02 at ~30K miles because they were leaking pretty good, and my shop wouldn't guarantee the alignment if I didn't change them.

The reasoning behind it (so I've read) is that the Escape is so light in the rear that the shocks hardly get any travel so the rod wears in just that one area. About the only time I have any real weight in the back is 2 or 3 times a year for trips or vacation (my SO carries three weeks worth of her stuff for a one week trip). And my idea of off road is pulling into my driveway :-)

Reply to
SC Tom

"SC Tom" wrote in news:j2mgj7$tfm$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me:

My use of our vehicle is similar, except that potholes hereabouts are so bad that on-street use likely qualifies as off-road. Mine now is just over the 50,000 Km threshold, so at about the same point when you replaced your shocks.

Thanks for the pointer to the website.

Reply to
Andrew Chaplin

My wife's 2005 Escape had a premature rear shock failure while it was under warranty. Ford replaced them free. I consider myself lucky that this was the only thing wrong. Ford doesn't make the shocks so I don't hold it against them.

Reply to
finiteguy

You're welcome. I have found a wealth of information there.

Sorry you couldn't get them replaced under warranty. I may have been able to, but I went ahead and ordered a pair and put them on myself. Not the easiest job in the world- the bottom plastic trim and the side panels have to come out to get to the top nuts (unless that's been changed in the newer models). The shop wanted $100US to do them- that's more then the shocks LOL!!

Reply to
SC Tom

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