Stock Shocks Replacement Options

[sandange]

My Mileage has been getting up 65,000 miles, (110,000 km) there and I feel I've lost some of that crisp handling/stability and ride comfort.

Was wondering if any one has looked into replacing the stock shocks with equivalent or better.
What Prices they paid , & brand/supplier they dealt with.

[Don]

www.rockauto.com has listings for just about any part of any car and they don't have a single listing for either shocks or struts for the iMiEV, which leads me to believe nobody is yet making replacements for our cars

When you look up shocks and struts for most other makes and models, they have half a dozen different choices to pick from. The fact that not one is there for our cars probably means that sadly, there's just nothing out there. Looks like it's OEM units from Mitsu (likely at 3X the price) or nothing for now. It can be tough driving a one of a kind car!

Don

[sandange]

Thanks Don
This is what I've experienced also trying to source replacement shocks.
Now I'm hoping to find some that were gently used.

[Phximiev]

Per Mark Mitsubishi, our 'Miev needs new rear shocks and there are no after-market substitutes. Quoted $399.00 for both rear shocks. Ouch. Anybody have any luck finding an after-market replacement?

Replaced the cabin filter for $35 including tax; MM used a Mirage filter, which they said was the same.

[Don]

How many miles on your car? You should be fine until at least 75K or so on suspension parts. No chance that your dealer is suggesting a change just because he knows he'll be making a mint on a hard to find part, is there?

There's nothing 'special' about our rear shocks (or the front struts for that matter) except that they fit an iMiEV. If it was a Toyota Corolla, the rear shocks would be $40 each and no doubt, ours don't cost any more than that to manufacture, so $200 each is just . . . . robbery

It might be worthwhile to try to cross reference shocks and struts to see if Mitsu used the same parts on another car
- Maybe a Lancer or something. If you found that to be the case, there are aftermarket suppliers for some of those models. You could also spec them by length, diameter of the studs they mount on and so forth and maybe find a 'suitable substitute' for probably $40 or $50 each, or you could try and find a used set from a lower mileage wreck . . . . at least until the yard discovers that ordinary parts of an iMiEV are actually 'Gold' (or so the dealers think) and then the used prices will probably skyrocket too

Don

[Phximiev]

How many miles on your car? You should be fine until at least 75K or so on suspension parts. No chance that your dealer is suggesting a change just because he knows he'll be making a mint on a hard to find part, is there?

44k or so, I did look at the shocks this morning with another mechanic and they are leaking. I think that you suggestion about trying to match from another vehicle should be investigated. These shouldn't have failed at this time.

And I wonder if they can be repaired?

[Aerowhatt]

Nothing special (by appearance) about the rear shocks. We just need to pull a part # and then it should be pretty straight forward to find a replacement for between $20 and $50 each. I'll see if I can find one on the labels next time that I am about to hit the shower.

Aerowhatt

[Lithim]

2012 ES model, original owner:
Almost 50,000 miles and the rear shocks are toast. As earlier posters have mentioned, replacements are only available from Mitsubishi. Apparently no inventory in the USA at this time, so mine are on their way from Japan.
Just goes to show the problem with a limited production vehicle.
Stay charged my friend.

[JoeS]

Here are its dimensions (in millimeters) of the rear shock I had pulled off a 2016 North American i-MiEV:

[Phximiev]

How many miles on your car? You should be fine until at least 75K or so on suspension parts. No chance that your dealer is suggesting a change just because he knows he'll be making a mint on a hard to find part, is there?

44k or so, I did look at the shocks this morning with another mechanic and they are leaking. I think that your suggestion about trying to match from another vehicle should be investigated. These shouldn't have failed at this time.

And I wonder if they can be repaired?

I still have the old shocks in the garage. After much inquiry about whether they could be repaired or matched from another vehicle, I gave up. No one seemed interested unless the price was prohibitive and nobody could find a match unless from another iMiev or Mitsubishi.

But if someone wants to take a shot at repairing mine, I'll be happy to donate them if it becomes an effort that benefits the group.