So how do Shock Absorbers work?
Simply put, shock absorbers work by allowing the springs to absorb the energy when your tyre hits a bump in the road.
They are essentially oil pumps. A piston is attached to the end of the piston rod and works against hydraulic fluid in the pressure tube. As the suspension travels up and down, the hydraulic fluid is forced through tiny holes inside the piston. However, these holes only let a small amount of fluid through the piston. This slows down the piston, which in turn slows down spring and suspension movement.
When do shock absorbers need replacing?
Here are a few quick signs to look out for:
- Poor handling, stiffness, knocking noises, or strange bouncing
- Car nose dive when braking
- Oil stains, as this shows they may be leaking
- Scalloped dips or a cupped pattern appearing around the edge of the tyre tread (as shown in the image) could mean that the shock absorbers are worn or that the suspension parts are loose. The pattern can also happen when there is excessive movement of the tyre, indicating that the tyres could be unbalanced.