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The bounce test isn't really a valid test for McPherson struts. It only works with traditional shocks. In a traditional suspension system with an upper and lower control arm, a bounce moves both the ball joints and the up/down shock motion dampens the spring oscillations. But a strut actually takes the place of the upper control arm. So when it compresses, it does so at an angle. It's range of motion is in an arc, as opposed to up and down. So when you try to bounce it, you place all the body weight on the strut piston and seals. That's also why a strut piston is almost 3x thicker than a traditional shock. I've seen totally shot struts appear just fine with the bounce test. You really have to look for leaks, or do a road test. The most telling road test is to drive it down a bumpy road and check to see if the vehicle wants to change lanes after a bump. That's a dead giveaway for a bad strut.
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I'm a retired ASE Master/L-1 Technician. I still keep current with the latest automotive technology and have over 500 DIY repair articles on my blog. Visit it at:
Rick's Auto Repair Blog
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