Is there a sure fire way I can tell if the shocks that were put in my car are brand new? I have a sneaking feeling I was given used shocks. In expecting the front left and right, the outer casing (not sure what you call it) looks old but I am willing to accept that the shocks have some kind of casing they fit into. If I slide the rubber cover up at the top of the shock, that seems to be the only way to peek inside to see what is in there but I am not sure how I can really tell. Is there a way? What I see in there looks like old white scratched paint...looks old!

The reason I ask is because I have had to bring my car in 3 times. Once because it was clunking all over the joint after the first job.
I was told the first ones were defective Whatever!!!!!!
I took it in a 2ndd time and the lazy ass did nothing so I had to wait another day.
Finally I get it back and it seems like everything is ok but I am woried they fixed it the first time by trying to pass crappy parts in my car and I busted them. Now I am afraid they are double screwing me by fixing it with a used part. Call me paranoid but I will never take my car back to these hose bags again.