What do Car Shocks Do?

Shock absorbers have been around for nearly 80 decades but to this day many people do not fully understand what they are, and will sometimes ignore them; damaging the car’s ability to drive smoothly and comfortably.

If shock absorbers are worn and left untreated, it can be really dangerous for the driver and others safety because your car will lose contact with the road, meaning your brakes and steering will not be effective.

How Do Shock Absorbers Work?

Inside your shock absorbers, there’s a piston that moves inside a tube that is filled with oil. As your suspension moves up and down so does your piston which forces the oil out through tiny holes and valves known as orifices inside the piston. These orifices only allow a small amount of fluid through the piston resulting in it slowing down and in turn slowing down the suspension movement.

This allows the absorbers to control the amount of resistance to movement and converts this kinetic energy into thermal energy, which is then released into the air via heat exchange.

What Are Shock Absorbers For?

Many people believe that shock absorbers support the weight of the vehicle, but this is actually not true:

Shock absorbers are an element of your car that helps control the impact of your springs and suspension. They are also responsible for making your journey as smooth and comfortable as possible by absorbing bumps and vibrations on the road.

However, their main job is to keep your tyres in contact with the road at all times.

When Should I Replace My Shock Absorbers

It shouldn’t be a surprise to find out that you need to replace your shock absorbers because just like your clutch and brakes, they are used constantly and prone to wear and tear. However, it can be difficult to know exactly when you should replace them, so here are some tell-tell signs that your shock absorbers needs replaced:

• Shock absorber covered in oil
• You notice the performance of your car handling is really difficult
• When you have hit around 80,000-100,000 miles, but remember that a shock absorber with 50,000 miles on it will not perform as well as a new one.

Shock absorbers should not be ignored. If they need to be replaced or you feel that your handling of the car is uncontrollable, then you need to get your shock absorbers tested.

We conducted some research, and the average cost in the UK to replace shock absorbers are £277.00 (pair).

So, GET A QUOTE from My Car Needs A today, so that we can find the best deal for you.