What is a shock absorber?
Shock absorbers might not be the most exciting part of a car, but along with tyres and brakes they are important elements of the safety of a vehicle. They are hidden beneath a car’s wheel arches, so unlike tyres are not easy to check regularly for visible signs of damage and wear. The role of the shock absorber is to keep the car’s tyres in permanent contact with the road, helping to provide optimum grip, when cornering and braking. Shock absorbers are part of the suspension, so if the shocks are worn, the vehicle’s ride and comfort is compromised. The mechanics of a shock absorber all follow the same principle of controlling wheel movement by forcing oil through small holes, with the size or valving of these holes Ôtuned’ to suit the chosen characteristics of each vehicle type Ð large or small, family saloon, load carrying estate, MPV, 4×4 or high performance sports car. The dangers of worn shock absorbers Most people are not even aware of the potential dangers of worn shock absorbers
