worn shock absorbers Archives - Heels & Horsepower Magazine

The 3 Major Enemies of your car’s Shock Absorbers

vuyi on October 15, 2020

The lifespan of your shocks is dependent on a number of factors. These include the terrain you often travel on, the conditions you drive in as well as your personal driving style.

As with all car components, shock absorbers are subject to wear and tear over time, however, there are a few things which accelerate their deterioration.

Potholes: If you are driving on bad roads or hitting potholes often this will cause your vehicle to rebound more frequently and can damage your shocks.
Dirt roads: When travelling on dirt roads a lot of dust is generated in the air. These sand particles get into the seals of your shocks, damaging them and causing the fluid inside to leak out.
Mud: Mud gets into the inner components of your vehicle, including your shocks. This will damage the seals and cause leaks. Leakage reduces the effectiveness of your shocks as it diminishes their ability to absorb impact.

There are however, a few things you can do to help extend the life of your shock absorbers.

Drive slowly and with extreme caution through potholes, mud and on gravel roads.
Have your shock absorbers checked regularly checked (this will be done by a trained specialist whenever your car goes in for a service)
Clean the wheel hubs of your car to dislodge debris

Your shock absorbers should be checked once a year at the very least or alternatively every 20,000kms.

What are Shock Absorbers?

vuyi on October 14, 2020

Your shock absorbers are critical safety components on your car and can be classified into two basic types:

Standalone shocks that attach to the vehicle suspension and frame
Shock-absorber cartridges that are integrated into a suspension strut

Some cars have struts in the front and individual shocks in the rear. If this is the case, it’s possible to replace the rear shocks with the help of a friend who knows what they’re doing, but it’s safer to have your shock absorbers replaced by a professional.

The purpose of Shock Absorbers

Shock absorbers limit overall vehicle body movement or sway. They support the springs in your car ensuring they don’t rebound on impact over rough surfaces. In this way they absorb and level out jolts to your car. They also do the job of keeping your tyres in contact with the road at all times.

Symptoms of worn Shocks Absorbers

Your tyres and shocks work together so if your shocks are worn your tyres do not grip the road firmly. As shocks gradually wear out you unconsciously adjust your driving to compensate. You may only notice the decreased efficiency when your car struggles to hold the road while cornering or braking quickly.

Your shock absorbers are worn and require replacement if you experience:

Vibrations while driving
A tapping sound while driving caused by cracked bushing at attachment points
Swerving or nose diving when braking
Longer braking time
Uneven tyre wear
Leaking fluid

What to do about worn Shock Absorbers

New cars are fitted with original equipment shock absorbers while on the auto-manufacturer’s production line and are sourced from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). Worn shocks will be replaced by the dealership as long as it is within the vehicle’s warranty period.

If you experience problems after your vehicle’s warranty has expired before the next service is due, visit a reputable auto fitment centre affiliated to the Retail Motor Industry (RMI) and who comply with its codes of conduct and Consumer Protection Act guidelines.

The benefit of fitting shock absorbers at a reliable fitment centre with a national footprint is that should any problems arise, you can have it resolved at any of the branches, wherever you happen to be in the country.

Extract from an article published by SupaQuick South Africa