Can shocks freeze?

[jre97]

It hasn't been too awfully cold but it seems like every time it gets below freezing my lebaron's rear suspension gets solid. I first noticed it last week, I was leaving work and there is a dip where the parking lot meets the road and I hit it and BANG it hit hard but was fine after that. I jump in it today and it was doing the same thing only you could feel every little bump in the road. I got out and I could only push down the rear of the car about 1/2 inch on the drivers side. I've looked under it and nothing looked out of the ordinary. So can shocks freeze? I know they've needed replaced for some time but have never had this happen before.

[turbovanman²]

Yes, they can, or if there in poor shape, they can stop working when it gets cold outside due to the oil thickening up.

[lametec]

Yep. I've had that happen twice now. Both times the struts (in these cases) had obvious signs of leaking, and had been bad for some time.

[jre97]

Thanks, Hopefully they'll thaw enough to last me to the weekend. Then I'll have time to swap them out.

[magtec]

if a shock is installed upside down water can collect in the bell portion and freeze. this will produce slamming and banging.