so I'm coming outta mconalds and I'm walking u to car frm the rear. the cars on an cline but I notice the driverside rear looks lower then the rest of the car. I notice that I don't have a flat o I'm wonderin wtf....I compared it to the front and al I can conlude is that the strut is blown. I have no idea how long I've been driving like this. how long can you drive on a blown strut? I say this only because I want to order new struts/ springs but this is my only mode of transportation....

 

Considering you don't know how long it's been like that I wouldn't worry too much about how longer you can drive on it. If it's broke it needs fixin.

 

Did you try bouncing on it? That would have given you a much better conclusion than just eyeballing it.

 

Do the shocks affect the ride height? I thought it was the car weight on the springs that set the height and the shocks just dampened the bounce?!?

 

Yeah, the springs hold up the car, the shocks/struts just control the oscillations...they don't affect ride height.

 

... if its shocks, just drive slowly and try not to bottom out... this will damage your strut mounts. If its springs... well be very careful because your car is now riding on 3 and 1/2 wheels.

 

to back up fr33way's statement you need to inspect it more that just looking at it. The pavement at McDonalds could be un-even.

Try pushing down on on the car right on the fender and see if the car bounces a few times after you've pushed it, Take off the wheel and examine the strut, see if any oil is leaking around the piston. Is your car very boncy when driving?

If you havent noticed any bonciness, or noised from the strut when driving, and you basing your struts just on when you were comming out of McDonalds, then I'm sure the car is fine.

If you want new struts and springs just save up and buy them, I myself a while ago was mainly going to wait for parts to need changing so I can put aftermarket parts on, but you'll be waiting a looooon time.