Leaking Rear Shock? Opinions? Pic included

[TdiBlacky140]

Sometimes I notice the drivers rear of my Golf V is sitting lower than the passenger side and when I measure it by sticking my hand in between the top of the tyre and the wheel arch there is a definite difference. Other times, it looks and is identical. Anyway, I was under the rear investigating today and noticed what I think was oily fluid under the top plastic cover piece on this drivers side shock. The location of where I can see this fluid is indicated in the picture I posted, I can push that little plastic collar thing up off the chock and then I can see a small amount of fluid at the top of it, it's not a lot but is there, the passenger side is dry and doesn't have this.

The picture posted is the exact brand and part no. Monroe 23979 of shock that's on my car, is this likely to be oil or just a residue. I notice this Monroe shock is a "Twin-Tube" type (new to me) as opposed to a Monotube shock (which is what I thought all shocks were), anyway, is the oil I see under that collar likely to indicate the shock is goosed, or is it just misty residue not necessarily meaning the shock is goosed?


I didn't fit these shocks, were on it when I bought the car but there's at least 40k miles on them as that's the miles I've put on the car since buying.

The car (and it's shocks obviously) recently passed the Nct which is the equivalant of the Uk Mot and nothing was mentioned about shocks so do I just replace or can is there anything else I can do to test the shock before condemning it. If I pull it off the car would I see more?

[Crasher]

There is a VAG Technical Product Information notice about this which tells VAG dealers that if they replace a damper for that amount of oil they will be “redebited” for the costs and it also states that a small amount of oil “sweating” is actually beneficial to the life of the piston rod seal. A leaking damper will not affect the ride heigh, take the damper of and the height will be the same, what does affair the it and is common on the Golf 5 is broken rear springs right down inside the arm where you can’t see the break and disintegrate is bumps stops

[TdiBlacky140]

That's interesting. I guess mine isn't leaking then so, I think mine could only be described as a slight residue or misting at best and around the seal area so seems ok.

I'll just keep an eye on it, funny the other side doesn't appear to be wet in any way though.
The springs seem to be in good condition, not rusted and no crus built up at the base of the spring, it's actually hard to see down to the bottom coil of the springs even with the wheel off. I'll have better view when replacing the suspension arms / bushings.

Cheers for the helpful info once again, Crasher.

[Crasher]

it's actually hard to see down to the bottom coil of the springs even with the wheel off.

We use a mirror on a stick