anyone ever break a bilstein?, I think I did! Options

[tadink]

so, going down my bumpy road into town sunday morning - I rounded a corner and went over a bump and BANG - something gives way in the rear. I pull over and look around and can't find anything - so I continue on my way and there is a noticeable clunk on each bump coming from right rear - can't tell just where.

I pick up the chicken wings (no shortage!) and head back up the hill and the clunk gets worse and I start to notice some handling - shock absorber weirdness.....almost home, and then the right rear tires starts to make contact with the inner wall of the car and the apparently "not cut far enough" remnants of the rear quarter panel.

Jacked her up - pulled off the tire and wow - it appears the bilstein has failed! Top plastic torn part way off, puddle of oil below. What gives? I don't see anything else amiss under there - do they just fail like this?

I can push down on the right rear and there is only spring - no shock absorption whatsoever, and the clunk. Not sure what is clunking actually - maybe the guts of the shock?

they were a new-ish set of shocks, I'm told by the PO, and running well up to the Bang-clunk experience. I guess I'm in the market for a new shock?

thoughts? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)
td