Jan 31 2020

6 symptoms of bad shock absorbers

 

The function of the shock absorbers is to ensure that the tires on your vehicle stay on the ground in a consistent manner. To do this, it manages the movement of the suspension and springs

This allows your tires to always be in contact with the road, whether in a straight line, when cornering, on hills or on a bumpy road. All the vibrations and tremors of driving on such a road are absorbed by the shock absorber, hence its name.

Do not confuse a shock absorber and a strut as they have differences. The spacer is integrated into the structure of the suspension system while the shock absorber connects two parts of the suspension together. In other words, the whole weight of the vehicle is placed on the support and not on the shock absorber.

 

Top 6 bad shock symptoms:

The shock absorber or strut may eventually deteriorate and ultimately not work. Many people have a hard time figuring out which one went wrong when strange symptoms occur. Here are six of the most common signs that could indicate that you have a faulty shock absorber.

 

 1 – Knocking noise:

When you go over various bumps, retarders or potholes and you hear a typing noise, it probably means that you have worn shock absorbers. Noise can come from coil meal springs hitting the chassis of your car. The points at each end of the shock absorber contain rubber rings. All it would take is for a crack to form in the rubber ring and it will result in a tapping or knocking noise that you can hear every time you hit a bump while driving.

 

 2 – Vibrations:

The shock absorber has valves and piston seals inside. If one of them is too worn, the fluid flow will not be controlled and it will move through the piston seal and / or the valve. Once this happens, the steering wheel vibrates every time you ride a bump, regardless of its size.

 

3 - Fluid leak:

The shock body has seals to protect it from leakage. After a while, these seals will begin to flow liquid along the side of the shock body until it falls to the ground. If the shock loses too much fluid, it will not function properly.

 

4 – Swering:

If you depress the brake pedal while turning, you risk swerving or diving from the nose. When the shock absorber is faulty, the weight of your car will shift in the opposite direction as you turn. This will deflect you and it will take more work just to set the turn in the direction you want to go.

 

5 - Brakes react slowly:

If you press the brake pedal and your car takes a while to slow down and stop, your shock absorber may be defective. This may be due to the length of the piston rod which is not taken up quickly enough by the vehicle. Thus, the vehicle needs more time to perform this task.

 

6 - Uneven tire wear:

Since a bad shock absorber will cause your tires to be unevenly placed on the road, your car will start to rebound when you drive it, and only parts of your tire will hit the road, causing these areas to increase. Worn only areas that do not touch the road. As a result, you will have uneven tire wear.