What is the working
of shock absorber? Why is it an important part of vehicle’s suspension? How to
know if a shock absorber has gone bad? We answer your queries regarding shock
absorbers. - Brought to you by PartsAvatar Auto Parts.
When we think of
smooth drive, we usually think of horsepower and top performing engine. But
what if the driver can’t handle the car? The powerful engine will be pretty
much useless at that time!
Did you know that
shock absorbers are something you shouldn’t ignore? If you think that your
car’s shock absorbers still can delay replacement, here is why you should give
it a second thought!
What are Shock absorbers?
Shock absorbers
absorb unpleasant affects of bumpy roads and unavoidable holes thus enhancing
driver’s control over the vehicle as well as the overall comfort of the
passengers.
Shock absorber is
an important part of car’s suspension system
that slows and stops up and down bouncing movement of your vehicle’s springs through
a process known as dampening.
They consist of a
cylinder called the reserve tube that is filled with hydraulic fluid, another
tube called the pressure cylinder within that cylinder, a piston that travels
through the inner cylinder and valving that meters the flow of the fluid from
one side of the piston to the other as bumps in the road are encountered.
A vehicle’s
suspension system comprises of three important parts- tires, spring and shock
absorber. These three should be in good working condition in order to maintain
tire’s proper contact with the road. Shock absorbers play a pivotal role in maintaining
tire’s contact with the road.
In order to assure
safety and smooth drive, shock absorbers should be maintained properly. So what
are the major benefits of Shock absorbers? Read on further!
Stability
Without a stable
car, you won’t be safe on road. Shock absorbers play a pivotal role in
maintaining stability. Shock absorber reduces bumpy effect. They provide
stability to your car. They create friction between road and rubber of your
car’s tires to enable stability while driving down the road.
If the roads,
highways were perfectly flat, there wouldn’t have been any need of shock
absorbers. But even a newly paved road has subtle ups and downs and moreover
without shock absorbers, all the vertical energy of wheels will be shifted to
the frame of the vehicle.
Without shock
absorbers, wheels would take on every imperfection on the road and your ride
will be full of bumps moving up and down with every jolt. Car won’t last long
without stability.
During hard
acceleration the rear of the vehicle may dip while the front rises then
impacting the steering control.
Comfort
It
is very uncomfortable to drive while feeling every bump and crack in the road. Comfort
is the main thing for the passengers/ driver sitting inside. Shock absorbers
take out the harsh imperfections in the road, so that you don’t feel them.
Aside
from stability, comfort is the main concern for automobile giants.
So,
if your car is vibrating abnormally or you are feeling every bump on the road,
call your mechanic and check whether shock absorbers need replacement or not!
Safety
Safety
is a concern for most of us. Safety is more than just buckling up seat belts or
not driving recklessly. In your suspension system, the shock absorbers are what
stop your vehicle from swaying side to side when it’s windy or why you don’t
have a trouble stopping!
20%
of stopping distance is controlled by your shock absorbers. You should replace
worn out shock absorbers as they lose the tendency to control the car and can
seriously jeopardise your safety on the road.
Want
to know if it’s time to replace them? Find out next!
Long Stopping Distance
Worn
shock absorbers can increase your car’s stopping distance by 20%. As you
increase your travelling speed this will also increase the distance it takes
your vehicle to completely stop.
This
20% extra is enough to cause a fatal accident. Call your mechanic immediately
and tend to the worn absorbers as it might be a close call!
Nose diving or swerving
Does
your car swerve or dip under braking? When the piston seal is worn out the
fluid flows uncontrollably which results in extreme movement of piston on
applying slightest brake application.
Nose dive is caused when weight shifts
farther forward than estimated.
This
can be dangerous in wet weather, as the control of car reduces due to malfunctioning
shock absorbers.
Vibrations
Are
you getting vibrations through the steering wheel as your are driving along? If
your shocks are working properly they should keep your tires in optimal contact
with the road and there shouldn’t be any vibrations.
If
you feel vibrations while driving,
there is a possibility of worn shock absorbers. Fluid flows uncontrollably past
the valve and piston seal allowing you to feel everyone small vibration due to
bumps and cracks or other imperfection on the road.
Uneven tire wear
Can
you see bald patches or uneven wear on your tires? This usually means your
tires don’t have optimal contact with the road, which can be caused by worn
shocks. Replacing car shocks
is much economical as compared to replacing tires!
Uneven tire wear
has several disadvantages. One of them is feeling slight bounce as the vehicle
moves over the road surface.
So,
call the professional to check shocks and shock absorbers and don’t forget to
replace them as tires can just blow your pocket off!
Rocking and rattling
If
shocks are heavily worn there is a possibility that your vehicle will rattle on
railway tracks, bumps and uneven surfaces heavily. It not only gives experience
of an uncomfortable ride but can also put pressure on other components which
can be quite expensive to repair.
So,
never ignore rattling or rolling!
Leaking fluid
Sometimes,
the worn shocks can create leaks and the fluid may start leaking down the side
of the shock towards the ground. With the loss of fluid, shock won’t be able to
perform at its optimal level.
Hopefully,
we helped you understand the importance and benefits of shock absorbers and
when to replace them. For your safety on the road, make sure to maintain them!
Would
you like to upgrade the performance auto parts
of your car, visit PartsAvatar now! We have a wide product catalog where you
can find every auto part your desire for at affordable prices!
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