Many drivers are unaware of how dangerous defective shock absorbers are. This is shown by numerous tests. So, recently, the German magazine Autobild, together with ZF-Sachs, conducted tests to find out how dangerous it is to operate a car with worn shock absorbers. For example, did you know that defects can cause you to get into an accident? Therefore, every car owner should periodically check the condition of the shock absorbers. This is the only way to reduce the risk of an accident.
We all know that . Given the fact that all cars weigh a lot, you can imagine what a colossal load shock absorbers experience. Thanks to serviceable shock absorbers, less vibration enters the car body while driving. We know that there are practically no smooth roads. Accordingly, the shock absorbers experience an almost constant load. This causes them to wear out. Moreover, the worse the roads in your area of residence, the less they will last in your car.
The most common shock absorber problem is oil leakage, which occurs due to wear on the shock absorber piston rod. As a result, when the damping mechanism inside the shock absorber is activated, the oil is squeezed out and falls on the shock absorber body. However, even if the shock absorbers look dry, this does not mean that they are fully functional. The fact is that today in many cars, during the leakage of which you will not see any signs of malfunction.
Quick check of shock absorbers in the car: How to find out if the shock absorbers are faulty in the car?
Here is a simple test to test car shock absorbers:
- - Stand next to one of the four wheels of your car
- - Press in a suitable place on the car (fender, trunk, door) to lower the car body. Press until the car body stops lowering
- - Now release your pressure on the body and step aside, paying attention to how the body will rise up
- - Keep in mind that with a good shock absorber, the car should go up only once
- - If, after you have moved away from the car, releasing pressure on the body, the car rises up, goes down and rises again, this clearly indicates that the shock absorber is faulty.
- - Carry out a similar test again with other shock absorbers
Shock absorbers in a car should be checked regularly
According to experts, in our country, due to the old age of the fleet, as well as due to the poor well-being of the population, a huge number of cars on our roads are operated with worn or broken shock absorbers (dampers). A particularly sharp increase in bad has been observed since the simplification of the inspection procedure. By the way, not many experienced motorists know that it is advisable to check the condition of the shock absorbers if the car's mileage has exceeded 80,000 km. Further, shock absorbers should be checked every 20,000 km. And not just anywhere, but strictly on a special stand. As you already understood, this can only be done in a specialized technical auto center.
Why is it so important to periodically check the condition of the shock absorbers in the car?
The thing is that faulty shock absorbers pose a danger to car owners, as well as to all road users. For example, recent Autobild tests involving two fourth-generation Volkswagen Golfs (one with good shock absorbers, the other with defective shock absorbers) showed that a car with a worn shock absorber is very dangerous on the road.
For example, a Golf IV with worn shock absorbers, despite the operation of the ESP system, loses stability on the road when cornering. But this is nothing compared to what a car with a defective shock absorber experiences when braking from 50 km / h. So, a car with a worn shock absorber installed showed a long braking distance in the test compared to the same car on which fully serviceable shock absorbers were installed. And we all know that stopping distance is one of the main factors during an emergency on the road. You understand that extra millimeters can lead to an accident, not to mention extra centimeters and meters.
With faulty shock absorbers, the machine changes driving characteristics
Have you ever dropped a ball on the floor? The thrown ball continues to jump for a certain time, either falling or bouncing off the surface of the asphalt, floor, coating in the hall, etc. The springs in the suspension of most cars also work. And if there were no shock absorbers, then your car,. Moreover, after passing a small unevenness, the car body would have swayed up and down for a long time. Shock absorbers, on the other hand, prevent such a buildup due to bumps in the road, extinguishing the inertia of the car.
But due to natural wear and tear, the damping effect of shock absorbers becomes less and less over time. And, unfortunately, at first it may be imperceptible and even not affect the comfort of the driver and passengers.
But in fact, the harmful effects of worn shock absorbers have already begun.
Since defective shock absorbers can no longer dampen the up and down movement of the car, as before, the wheels of the car begin to bounce like a ball when driving over bumps on the road surface. As a result, the contact patch of tires with the road is constantly changing. By the way, it is precisely because of the bouncing of the wheels as a result of the poor performance of the shock absorbers that the braking distance increases significantly, since the adhesion of the wheels to the road surface decreases due to a poor contact patch.
Even with poor shock absorbers, the car becomes unstable on the road. Especially when cornering. In addition, due to the movement of the rubber up and down, it increases.
Naturally, due to faulty defective shock absorbers and suspension elements.
So if you bought a used car, you should definitely check the condition of all shock absorbers and, if they fail, replace them with new ones.
Unfortunately, antiquated methods are not always able to identify all possible ones. Therefore, we recommend that you contact a specialist who will not miss possible signs of shock absorber wear during diagnostics.
So, in conclusion, let's remember once again why faulty shock absorbers are dangerous.
Worn shock absorbers are a big hazard. In particular, the stopping distance of the car deteriorates due to the lack of damping, as a result of which the tires begin to lose contact with the road.
A brake test by ZF-Sachs showed that a car with worn shock absorbers (the car in the background in the photo) increases the stopping distance. So, when braking from a speed of 50 km / h, the braking distance of a car with faulty shock absorbers increased during the test by 3.5 meters compared to a car with serviceable shock absorbers (in the photo of the car in the foreground).
The wear of shock absorbers is perfectly revealed by a special stand in the technical center. The car drives onto special vibrating plates, and the computer starts to read how the shock absorber works. Even with the slightest deviation in the operation of the shock absorber, the computer will calculate it.
Also, in order to check the condition of the shock absorber, a visual inspection is also useful. If during inspection the shock absorber body is in oil, then the mechanism must be replaced with a new one.
Manual antiquated test for the buildup of the car up and down, unfortunately, reveals only completely "killed" shock absorbers. In other cases, using the buildup, you will not determine the degree of wear of the shock absorber. Therefore, the test on the stand is indispensable.
If you notice partial wear of the tread (etc.), then the probable cause of this may be the wear of the shock absorbers.
Always change both shock absorbers of the same axle. The shock absorbers are much easier to change on the rear axle of the Golf than on the front axle.
On average, on one axle, it will take about 12-15 thousand rubles to replace shock absorbers (the cost of original spare parts + work at the dealer). On average, it takes at least 1 hour to replace.
Car Opel Kadett 1992 release, recently the suspension is not working as usual. Can you tell me how to determine if the shock absorbers are faulty?
Hello, there are several options for determining the malfunction.
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How to understand that shock absorbers need to be changed?
The main features are listed below:
- If while driving you notice that the front suspension works much harder, and during braking the rear wheels have no traction, that is, the front of the car goes down, then this indicates the need for replacement parts.
- When the vehicle accelerates, the front wheels will rise slightly, and the rear wheels will lower accordingly. In addition, during acceleration, a loss of front wheel traction may be recorded. The driver may also lose control of the vehicle.
- Another indicator of wear is stiffness, shaking while riding. The car can bounce, the driver will feel jolts. In addition, when driving, the knock of the suspension, vibrations can be recorded.
- Loss of control, machine moving from side to side even with slight turns. When driving straight, the car goes to the side, it is necessary to correct the vector of movement of the car.
- In general, poor handling of the vehicle can also indicate wear on the shock absorbers. It is necessary to correct the steering or the braking system.
- Often, domestic motorists are faced with such a problem as suspension breakdowns. The shock absorbers will work hard, new sounds will appear, in particular, a strong knock, the car may lose traction with the road surface. You can check this by running over a bump or curb. You will see how the wheel rests on the fender liner.
- You can determine the malfunction by rubber. Wear will appear on the tires, and it is characteristic that they can form at certain intervals. In general, rubber with failed shock absorbers wears out very quickly - you may not even notice how you drive on bald tires. Of course, in this case, the car will lose traction with the road surface.
- Sometimes car owners are faced with the problem of brake system failure - if you drive at a speed of 60 km / h and slow down, then a strip of tires will remain on the pavement, but not solid. The control of the machine is lost, the vehicle will hardly accelerate.
Video "Replacing shock absorbers in a VAZ car"
Using the example of a VAZ car, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the replacement of elements at home (the author of the video is Made in the garage).
The peculiarity of the wear of shock absorbers is that it has a number of signs, and many drivers “wait” for the manifestation of only “their own”, familiar to them, will accept, ignoring others.
The nuance is also that an old shock absorber may work well in some conditions and not perform its functions in others.
Meanwhile, the importance of shock absorbers for traffic safety is great, because abnormally working racks lengthen the braking distance, disrupt the controllability of the car, and lead to skidding. Not to mention the fact that faulty shock absorbers mean impaired comfort and increased driver fatigue, up to the provocation of occupational diseases. So, the need for an early replacement of the racks is signaled by several features of the car's behavior at once - and they are easy to notice.
breakdowns
Shocks in the suspension when the wheel moves to the extreme upper and lower positions. These breakdowns occur even when slowly moving along large bumps or, for example, when carefully leaving the curb - in contrast to "regular" shocks, which mark the passage of large pits and mounds at high speed.
buildup
If, after passing a speed bump, the front or rear of the car makes several damped vibrations up and down, this is a reason to check the shock absorbers. The folk method is simple. You need to swing your hand, using your body weight, alternately each corner of the car body. After stopping the impact on the body, it should swing up and down no more than once. Otherwise, the corresponding shock absorber should come under suspicion, and you need to check it against other points of the algorithm given here.
Uncomfortable suspension work
If, when driving through small irregularities, the wheels work them out with increased noise, we can talk about the wear of the shock absorber valve assembly (or two at once). This is not about the metallic noise caused by a mechanical failure of the shock absorber, but about the stronger impacts of the wheels on the edges of the pit.
streaks
Abundant traces of fluid on the shock absorber body are a harbinger of an early replacement of the struts. Light "fogging" is allowed.
A quick and almost unmistakable verdict regarding the replacement of struts can be given by diagnostics on a special stand, which determines the residual effectiveness of shock absorbers by the magnitude of damping of suspension oscillations. Such stands are today at many service stations.
Every driver knows that a trouble-free suspension is a guarantee of comfort and safety for everyone in the car. Shock absorbers are the main and most significant component of the suspension.
The main purpose of shock absorbers is to maintain reliable contact between the tires and the road, improve vehicle handling and driving safety.
Gas
They can be used on cars with sports suspension and are considered the most rigid. Provides the greatest stability of the machine at high speed
Oily
The best choice for a successful and comfortable ride. They are very demanding on the quality of the road.
Gas-oil
They are considered universal. Decently copes with both city traffic and highway driving. Shock absorbers make it possible to level the vibrations of the body that occur during movement caused by uneven road surfaces. Among other things, they reduce the vibration of the vehicle body.
Defective shock absorbers will cause problems when driving a car. The braking distance will increase, and when cornering, it will become more difficult to control the machine. Violations in the operation of shock absorbers lead to the occurrence of other malfunctions to let the car down.
The following parts of the car fail:
- Suspension springs;
- Steering gear;
- Cardan;
- Differential;
- Tires;
- Transmission;
- Wheel bearings.
car rocking
It is necessary to press hard on each wheel of the car in turn. Shock absorbers should smoothly return the body to its original position. Complete immobility of the body must be achieved in no more than two oscillations.
Uneven tire wear
Uneven tire wear indicates that the tires do not have optimal contact with the road. This could be caused by worn shock absorbers.
visual inspection
It is enough just to look at it. If the presence of oil smudges, deformation or distortion of elements, a manifestation of corrosion is noticeable, then there is nothing to think about. This unit needs to be replaced urgently.
Machine movement
When meeting with minor irregularities, the car loses stability. At high speed it appears
Service station
The most competent assessment of the state of the chassis can only be done by professionals on a vibration stand in a qualified technical center.
How to increase the life of shock absorbers?
To increase the life of shock absorbers, you can use the following tips:
- Monitor the condition of rubber and metal suspension joints;
- Carefully drive over bumps;
- Avoid deep holes;
- Observe maintenance intervals.
Shock absorbers, as practice shows, begin to "jump" one at a time, but they must be changed only in pairs. After all, on the same axis there should be parts that are identical in technical condition. Thus, the smooth running of the car will be ensured.
Conclusion
Timely replacement of worn shock absorbers allows you to fully reduce the load on the vehicle suspension elements. This allows you to significantly increase their service life.
Thank you for your attention, good luck on the road. Read, comment and ask questions. Subscribe to fresh and interesting articles of the site.
Every part of your vehicle is subject to wear and tear. Some breakdowns can be easily identified. For example, if there are problems with the engine, its sound changes, the color of the exhaust changes and fuel consumption increases. Shock absorbers are completely different. Many drivers do not notice the problem with them for a long time, thinking that the bad road is to blame for all the suspension knocks.
Shock absorbers are a very important part in the design of any car. Braking efficiency, handling, comfort, service life of tire and suspension elements depend on their condition. Under normal use, shock absorbers last 3-4 years. However, their service life depends not only on driving style, but also on the quality of roads, which, unfortunately, leave much to be desired. In this regard, shock absorbers must be periodically checked and replaced in a timely manner.
The standard shock absorber is a sealed tube filled with hydraulic fluid. Inside is a piston with a rod. Hydraulic fluid flows from one compartment to another through special bypass valves. This creates a certain pressure and does not allow the car to sway on bumps. As additional damping elements, rubber-metal bushings and cushions located at the attachment points of the part act. But on most modern cars, depending on the machine and the tasks they will perform, the following types of shock absorbers are installed: hydraulic twin-pipe, two-pipe gas-hydraulic with low pressure gas, single-pipe gas-hydraulic with high pressure gas.
How to determine the wear of shock absorbers? In this article, I propose to consider the obvious symptoms of malfunction and incorrect operation of shock absorbers.
Steering wheel vibration while driving
If the seal on the shock piston wears out, hydraulic fluid begins to flow from reservoir to reservoir, not only through the bypass valves, but also through the seal itself. The stem has a free play, that is, the part does not perform its function properly and loses its effectiveness. While driving, this manifests itself in an increase in vibration and the appearance of shocks to the steering wheel. Hypersensitivity on bumps is a clear sign that not everything is in order with the shock absorbers. Most likely, they have exhausted their resource.
Pecking and pulling the car to the side during braking
If the seal inside the shock absorber is depleted and the bypass valves begin to malfunction, slight braking or steering wheel movement will cause noticeable body sway. A clear manifestation of a breakdown is a strong peck during braking or strong body roll in corners, often requiring steering. The vehicle starts to go into corners badly.
Sluggish braking
If the shock absorbers are faulty or not working properly, the car's wheels do not make as much contact with the road surface and begin to "jump" on it. This provokes short-term tire slippage. Accordingly, the effectiveness of the brakes is reduced, and the reaction time of the brake pedal is significantly increased.
Uneven tire wear
Along with the decrease in the efficiency of the brakes, the life of the tires also decreases. While the car is moving, the wheels jump up and cling to the road surface again. This process leads to uneven and increased consumption of rubber. In addition, the wheel balance is disturbed, “bald spots” appear on the tire, plus the wheel bearing suffers (it quickly fails from vibration). It is very important to periodically inspect the tread of all wheels.
Leaks of hydraulic fluid
Hydraulic fluid leakage is the most common cause of shock absorber failure. The appearance of streaks on the body of the part is associated with a violation of the tightness of the reservoir with hydraulic fluid. The latter leads to leaks and air leakage. As a result, the shock absorber rod begins to move freely (without effort), and the part itself becomes inoperative. A misted shock absorber should also not be ignored. Of course, it will last for some more time, but it must be replaced as soon as possible, because over time it will begin to sweat more and completely fail.
Destruction and deformation of mounting bushings
The next sign that the shock absorber has become inoperable is the destruction or cracking of the mounting rubber-metal bushings and pillows with which the shock absorber is attached to the body and suspension. The depletion of these elements provokes the free movement of the entire shock absorber and the occurrence of annoying knocks. At the same time, the shock absorber itself can be absolutely suitable for further use, but it cannot be repaired, since rubber-metal bushings, as a rule, do not change and are not sold separately. The shock absorber assembly will need to be replaced.
As I mentioned above, periodically it is necessary to conduct a visual inspection of the shock absorbers. One way to test a part is to press hard on each corner of your car and release it sharply. If the car continues to bounce after you let it go, then it's time to replace the shock absorbers. However, this method is not suitable for SUVs and pickups. For a more accurate diagnosis, it is advisable to contact qualified specialists to check the shock absorbers on a lift or a special vibration stand. Only the service center will make an accurate verdict. In addition, it is important to remember that shock absorbers can only be changed in pairs - two at the rear and two at the front. Otherwise, poor handling, pulls to the side and mediocre braking will not disappear.
Timely elimination of breakage of shock absorbers will allow you to prevent their destruction, failure of other suspension and body parts, significantly reduce repair costs and, most importantly, ensure the safety of your car.
- , 01 Nov 2017
