5 Symptoms of Bad Shock Absorbers
Have you ever noticed that some cars feel more floaty or bouncy than others? Much of the difference in a vehicle’s ride quality is due to shock absorbers.
Shock absorbers are suspension components that adjust the springs in your vehicle so that your tires always stay on the ground. Without these shock absorbers, driving would be a very uncomfortable and unpleasant experience.
What are shock absorbers? As you drive, the springs in your suspension compress and expand. When the springs compress, they may oscillate several times before returning to their original shape. Without shock absorbers, this oscillation would cause the entire vehicle to bounce up and down. The sensation is a bit like jumping on a trampoline.
Shock absorbers are fluid-filled cylinders that dampen vibrations caused by bumps in the road. A car’s suspension system has a shock absorber at each corner. Four shock absorbers in total. Some shock absorbers are located inside the spring. This arrangement is called a coil-over or strut, depending on the suspension’s construction.
What happens when a shock absorber fails? If a shock absorber is defective, or “burned out,” it can affect the vehicle’s handling. If you see a car driving with damaged shock absorbers, you may notice that the tire bounces up and down slightly on the road like a basketball. In extreme cases, this tire may even lift off the ground and temporarily lose grip around corners of the vehicle.
A burnt shock absorber can cause increased wear on other parts of the vehicle. You may notice strange wear patterns on the tires, such as: B. Side stripes on the tire tread.
Worn shock absorbers usually cause excessive vibration, especially at high speeds. High vibrations can cause vehicle fasteners to loosen. This can be very dangerous, for example the fasteners that attach the brake calipers to the car.
5 Most Common Symptoms of Defective Shock Absorbers
Shock absorbers are meant to last a long time, but there’s no guarantee they won’t fail one day. When a shock absorber eventually fails, it will cause a variety of symptoms.
You may only experience one or two symptoms at first, but many more can occur if you don’t replace your shock absorbers right away. Below are the 5 most common symptoms of a faulty shock absorber:
1) Steering wheel vibration
Shock absorbers are made up of numerous components and parts, such as piston seals and valves. When these parts wear out, the fluid can no longer maintain a constant flow and leaks through the valves and seals.
This causes vibrations through the steering wheel. The vibrations become even more pronounced when driving over potholes, rocks, or bumps.
2) Uneven tire wear
Shock absorbers ensure that tires stay even and straight on the road. If the shock absorbers are of poor quality, your tires will not wear evenly and you will have to replace them with new tires sooner than expected.
As a result, your tires will develop abnormal wear patterns (such as bulges) as you drive because each tire contacts the road surface in different places. This only makes the driving experience more uncomfortable and the ride more unstable.
3) Spinning
It is common for drivers to apply the brakes when they start to turn. However, if you notice your vehicle skidding when you do this, your shock absorbers may be faulty.
The reason is that the full weight of your vehicle is being pulled in the opposite direction to the direction you turn the steering wheel.
4) Leaking Fluid
As you probably already know, shock absorbers have seals that hold the suspension fluid in. When these seals wear out, suspension fluid leaks into the shock body. You probably won’t notice this leak until the fluid spills onto the road. If you still don’t notice the leak, your vehicle may eventually break down after enough fluid leaks from the shock absorber. Consider the steering wheel vibration mentioned above to be a warning sign of a leak.
5) Poor Braking Performance
A very noticeable symptom of a bad shock absorber is slow braking. This occurs when the braking system takes more than a few seconds to react after you press the brake pedal with your foot. This is a clear sign that a shock absorber may be the culprit. Naturally, you want to address this issue right away.
How long do shock absorbers last? In most cases, shock absorbers last a very long time, between 60,000 and 110,000 miles. If you drive on rough roads a lot or enjoy racing, your shock absorbers may wear out a little faster than normal.
If you notice a deterioration in the ride quality of your car, it may be time to replace your shock absorbers.