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Shock Absorbers and Road Safety
What is a shock absorber?
To most people a shock absorber is an unseen component somewhere near the wheel and suspension which never needs to be checked or looked at as it always works and does not wear out or need replacing; and perhaps like tonsils in a human do not really need to be there…
This is unfortunately not true as a shock absorber (or damper as it should be called) keeps the tyre in contact with the road by “damping” out excessive spring movements and bouncing, and as we all know tyres need to keep a grip on the road surface in order for the driver to retain control of the vehicle – so without a fully functional shock to keep the tyre in contact with the road surface, no driver would be able to maintain control of a vehicle. As an added bonus a good shock gives drivers a more comfortable ride as well.
Essentially a shock absorber is a metal cylinder filled with a special hydraulic fluid, with a top and bottom mounting (to be attached to a vehicle), which has a piston rod and piston that runs inside the cylinder. The piston has special multi-stage valving built into it that allows the fluid to move through it at a predetermined rate which in turn restricts the wheels from bouncing excessively. Many shocks also have nitrogen gas injected into the cylinder to improve their reaction time and to reduce heat and noise.
Heat is a shock’s worst enemy as it builds up quickly and once the shock fluid reaches boiling point air moves through the valving with the fluid and causes the shock to loose its damping efficiency and it goes “soft”. Over time this heating and cooling plus the continues movement of components causes a shock to wear out and in some cases for oil seals to leak. As this process of decline is very slow, most drivers will not notice and will adapt their driving to compensate. Which is why it is essential to have your vehicles shocks checked every 20 000km, particularly once a vehicle has reached a mileage of over 70 000km. Do not assume shocks are checked when your car is taken in for a service as this seldom happens; specify that they must be checked or take your car into a specialist fast fitment centre and they will check them for you at no charge.
This information was provided by Tenneco Automotive SA, manufacturers of Monroe and Rancho shock absorbers. Monroe has been keeping motorists safe on the roads since 1916 and is fitted to more new vehicles than any other brand in South Africa. Tenneco Automotive produces the world’s biggest selling shock - Monroe, and is a multibillion US Dollar USA based company with over 60 facilities on 6 continents and 150 countries around the world.
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