TECH-INFO: Shock absorbers

Your car has a sawtooth formation on the tyres or a worsened braking effect? Find out all you need to know about shock absorbers and other consequential damage, symtoms and failure reasons in our practical TECH-INFO.

VAICO | 22. October 2018 | Dorian Frerichs

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TECH-INFO

Function

Vibration absorbers (shock absorbers) allow the vibrations of the bodywork and wheels to subside more quickly. This results in an increased safety and driving comfort. Vibration absorbers convert the kinetic energy into thermal energy. Nowadays, almost exclusively hydraulic vibration absorbers are being used. In the process, a piston moves within a cylinder, allowing oil to be displaced through small holes or valves, the so-called throttle points.

Symptoms

Insufficient wheel traction on corners and bumps
Vehicle vibrates during braking
Vehicle swerves during acceleration
Bumpy and imprecise steering
Over- or under-steering

Consequential damages

Deterioration of braking
Electronic assistance systems impaired (ABS, ESP, ASR)
Sawthoot formation on tyres
Tyre washout
Damage to absorber / strut bearings
Increased wear on axle guidance joints

Reasons for failure

Leakages / loss of oil
Internal damage, e.g. to compression stops (often ión vehicles with trailer coupling, if these are loaded to the maximum)
Defective dust sleeves, which expose the piston rods to the weather and damage the sealing lip on the damper

Recommended by the experts

Always replace all shock absorbers from one axis at the same time.
Always change the impact buffer / dust cover at the same time
Check shock absorbers after the first 60,000 km, then every 20,000 km
Exceptions:
From 40,000 km for vehicles which frequently travel on inadequate routes
Along with any maintenance of vehicles with trailers