Shocks provide resistance by forcing hydraulic fluid (oil)
through valves in the piston as it moves up and down. Because
the oil cannot be compressed, only a certain amount of fluid
can be forced through these valves, which creates resistance
to the vehicle movement. Premium shocks and struts are superior
to regular hydraulic shocks because air in the shock is replaced
by pressurized nitrogen gas. This advancement in technology
prevents bubbles from forming in the hydraulic fluid. These
bubbles, called foaming, reduces the ability of shocks to
provide resistance and prevent bounce. Gas shocks also quicken
the response of a shock's movement, thereby increasing comfort
and control under all conditions.
How to Tell if Shocks and Struts Need Replacement
Under normal conditions, shocks and struts wear out gradually.
However, many factors can affect how much wear is actually
occurring and at what rate it is occurring. For example,
two people buy the same vehicle new off the dealer lot .
. . one lives in the city close to the office, and drives
mostly on straight roads. The other lives in the country,
45 miles from the office and must travel 10 of those miles
on a winding, often muddy gravel road. Because shocks operate
in extremely hostile under-vehicle environment, where anything
from gravel to ice and snow to grit can affect the life of
the product, it is a good bet that driver #2 will need to
replace his shocks long before driver #1. The piston rod
can easily be nicked or damaged by flying gravel allowing
grit and dirt to damage the piston seal. When this occurs,
fluid begins to leak from the piston seal and eventually
the shock will lose its ability to function properly.
Worn shocks and struts not only affect the ride comfort
and control of your vehicle, but can affect its braking effectiveness,
too.
Here is a good self test to check for signs of worn shocks
or struts:
Do you experience excessive bounce (3 or more bounces)
when crossing an intersection or dip?
When stopping quickly, does your vehicle rock back and
forth several times?
While applying your brakes firmly at higher speeds, does
your vehicle have a tendency to drift left or right?
When changing lanes quickly does your vehicle rock or sway
from side to side?
On a tight curve like a freeway ramp, does your vehicle
lean and sway giving it an uneasy and disconnected feeling?
Many components contribute to the handling characteristics
of your vehicle. Having your vehicle inspected if you experience
any of the above signs is good preventive maintenance and
can help parts wear less and last longer. When inspecting
shocks and struts, your service technician will look for:
1.
A badly leaking shock or strut: The unit is losing fluid
and can't provide the resistance for which it was originally
designed.
2.
Shiny Spots:
at the contact point of the safety bumper. and marks between
the coils of the spring called "coil
clash." They are the result of topping and bottoming
caused by excessive suspension travel.
3.
Tire cupping:
around the circumference of the tire can be caused by worn
or ineffective shocks & struts.
4.
Broken or loose shock or strut mount: The product is not
solidly connected at both ends and cannot function properly.
5.
Broken or damaged piston rod: The product cannot function
properly and should be replaced.
So now that you've got the facts, wouldn't you agree that
shocks and struts provide more than just a comfortable ride?
