The shock absorber is an element of suspension, the direct responsibility of which is to clean all the blows and oscillations arising when the car is moving along the uneven surface. It is the shock absorber provides the driver and passengers comfort and convenience while driving.

Device shock absorber

Regardless of the type and design of the shock absorbers, it consists of several basic elements. This is a working cylinder in a cylindrical case with eyelets to directly fasten the shock absorber to the body and the car suspension elements.

In addition, the cylinder is also the piston attached to the stock. The piston contains bypass valves and sealing rings. The bypass valves are designed to compress and return hydraulic fluid, which moves through the piston compression.

Basically, automobile shock absorbers are found, with purely gas and gas oil filling. In rare cases there are purely liquid shock absorbers (hydraulic).

Important! The gas-oil shock absorber is also quite common to refer to as a gas-liquid, combined or oleopneumatic.

Consider more details these two types of car shock absorbers:

• Gas oil shock absorbers - they are also called two-pipe. In this type of shock absorbers, the working substance is both oil and gas. The work involves directly oil, and the gas removes the resulting foam.
• Gas shock absorbers - they are one-tube. In this type of shock absorber, the working substance is directly gas, but in essence such a shock absorber is also gas oil. Since it also has an oil with one difference. Oil and gas in such type of shock absorbers do not contact with each other.

Important! The designs of the gas oil and pure hydraulic shock absorber are completely identical.

Signs of shock absorber malfunction

Faulty and worn shock absorbers entail a lot of other problems, consider carefully attributes for which you can define the malfunction of automotive shock absorbers:

Visual signs of shock absorbers:

• Deformation of the cylindrical case. The deformed shock absorber body is able to fully or partially hold the piston inside it. As a consequence, the shock absorber;
• The oil flows directly from the shock absorber. Oil leaks reduces damage index;
• Deformation or weakening of fasteners. With a high probability, when you ignore this problem, the attachment will be destroyed;
• Damage (deformation, cracks) fastening sleeves. Damaged sleeves with a high probability lead to the appearance of noise that occurs when driving around the uneven surface and speed set;
• Damaged shock absorber piston. Significantly increases rubber wear;
• Piston rod corrosion. Increases oil wear, as a result, oil leaks appear;
• Corrosion of springs support. With a high probability due to corrosion, the springs dish can break away.

In addition to the above-listed visual signs, the shock absorbers may also testify:

• Elevated wear of the tires;
• Significant "squat" the front of the car during braking;
• Significant "squat" the back of the car during acceleration;
• Car care in driving when turning;
• Rocking (left, right) car, when driving;
• Increased car shaking when driving;
• Poor clutch of the wheel of the car with a road surface;
• Sample suspension;
• Reducing the car charter at a speed of more than 80 km / h.

Faulty shock absorbers, which lead to faulty shock absorbers

Faulty shock absorbers extremely negatively affect both safety and comfort and the overall wear of other parts of the car. Consider more in more detail what kind of faulty car shock absorbers are:

• Significantly increases the brake path of the car. So, for example, when moving a car with a speed of 80km / h, with an ABS brake path increases by 6-10 meters, without ABS for 4-5 meters.
• The car is bad in turns. It begins to roll and extremely poorly holds the trajectory of movement;
• Any even a minor bump leads to a shaking and long swinging of the car;
• When driving around the wet surface, the effect of aquaplaning occurs by 10-20 km earlier;
• Significantly increases the load on all car suspension elements;
• Significantly increases car tire wear;
• Reduced clutch of a car with a road surface;
• The noise level created by the car is increasing when driving.

Interesting! The effect of aquaplamination is called the formation of a water wedge in the surface of the contact of the car tire with a road surface. If this effect occurs, the car almost completely loses controllability.

Oil shock absorbers how to check the shock absorber for performance

The advance detection of shock absorbers makes it possible to significantly reduce the cost of repairing the vehicle, and in some cases, to preserve the life of the driver and passengers. Checking the performance of shock absorbers under the power of each car owner and does not require special efforts:

• First of all, a visual inspection of the shock absorber should be carried out. There should be no signs of corrosion and deformation on the implicit items. In the event that it is covered with oil, it should be thoroughly wipe and produce, repeated after a couple of days for the flow;
• You should also make an inspection of the car tires for uniformity of wear, but it may not always talk about the malfunction of the shock absorbers. Uneven wear also occurs, for example, in the violation of "geometry" and some other faults;
• The rolling of the car is also very effective, contributes to the detection of malfunction of the shock absorbers. To do this, get in front of the car in front or rear. They will be lean on the hood or respectively the trunk and strongly shake it with all weight. After that, remove hands from him if the car makes more than one oscillation - this means about the need to replace shock absorbers;

• The serviceability of shock absorbers can also be checked during the movement of the car. Strong rolls when turning, strong swaying and shaking on the bumps, reduced car handling, etc. talk about the malfunction of the shock absorbers;
• A good verification option is to test the car on a special stand in the car service. During such tests, it is subjected to all sorts of loads. At this point, all data is removed from the car and processed on the computer, the output is a generated report.

Shock absorbers characteristics how to check new shock absorbers

To date, the car market has a lot of poor-quality products. We will try to figure out how to check and select high-quality shock absorbers for the car. When buying car shock absorbers should:

1. Visual inspection, for deformities and other mechanical damage. Also not allowed oil leaks;
2. Verify marking. It must correspond to the manufacturer's catalog;
3. Using the ruler, you can check the length of the rod. Deviations are not allowed more than 5 mm from the manufacturer's declared;
4. A gas shock absorber (one-tube) must be pumped by hands about 5 times, while the movement of the rod must be uniform and smooth without bokery. When pumping, there should also be no extraneous sounds, in addition to the natural "suggestion".

Tips of professionals

• The most reliable and correct way to choose shock absorbers to acquire them of the same type that have been installed when buying a car. Since they are provided directly to the design of the car;
• It is better to stop your attention to the well-proven car manufacturers of goods, but it is necessary to pick up shock absorbers compatible with your car. The manufacturers as BOGE, KAYABA, MONROE, SACHS, KONY, TRW are proven well well;
• In no case should not be installed on the car different shock absorbers;
• Gas shock absorbers are significantly tougher than their fellow. They increase car handling, but reduce comfort;
• Specialists recommend changing shock absorbers at least 80 thousand km of run after they are installed, but to inspect every 20 thousand km;
• Timely replaced shock absorbers will significantly maintain further expenses for the repair of the remaining suspension elements.