Shock absorber types, how to know what to pick, how to know when to fix/change?

If you have ever ridden in an old horse wagon, you would know what a bumpy ride it can be and pity on the old pioneers who had this means of travel. Today, in our modern world, we have cars with ‘suspension.’ Suspension is a system of linkages and shock absorbers that connect a car and its wheels. There are two basic functions of a suspension system – to provide traction by keeping the wheels firmly in contact with the road; and provide comfortable journey without any road bumps, noise or vibrations.

Types of Suspensions

There are two main types of suspensions used today.

Double Wishbone - In a double wishbone system, a pair of A-frames, one above the other, is mounted on top and the bottom of the hub of the wheel. A separate damper/spring unit is attached between one of the wishbones or hubs and the body in order to control the movement of the wheel.

McPherson Strut - A McPherson strut has a single damper/spring unit structuring a link between the top of the wheel hub to the chassis of the car. The bottom of the wheel hub is linked to the car’s chassis using different methods which are mostly considered a wishbone because they link the chassis at two points controlling the vertical movement. This link can be a single swinging arm or an A-frame providing longitudinal position.

Types of Shocks

There are many types of car shocks. These are:

1. Oil-filled car shocks Oil-filled shocks are older and offer some problems such as overheating but are still in use.
2. Nitrogen-filled shocks A nitrogen-filled shock contains both oil and nitrogen and is used to provide best performance.

Picking Shocks & Suspensions

How to know what to pick from different types of shocks and suspensions? Picking a right shock for your car depends on its usage. For example, if you have an off-road car, you require a high performance gas shock whereas for small regular cars, you require a normal performance shock that is not expensive. An average shopper can pick a right shock for his/her car in about 15 minutes.

Here’s how to know what to pick.

1. Determine the need of the vehicle and what type of ride dampening would go best with its intended use. A Jeep would need heavy-duty shock absorbers while cars that are driven more on the highway need stability for high speeds.
2. Select a style of shock that you desire. Although shocks might look attractive, they can be expensive and not the right choice for your car. You can use simple set of shock boots on your shocks to give it a high performance look.
3. The construction of any shock is not that important as its purpose. Therefore, choose any equipment with a shock like dual-piston versions or air-adjustable types.
4. You can use the auto store’s guide to help in choosing the right size of shock for your car.
5. It is also important to search online for reviews on manufacturers and shock units. A cheap model in a store might be considered top equipment as compared to a red-hot and an expensive shock. Conduct a research before you buy.

Changing Shocks & Suspensions

Many people are seen to question ‘how to know when to fix/change’ the shocks on your car. The best way to determine this is to drive your car on over familiar roads with bumps and surfaces. If your car performs well on the test run than you do not have fix/change the shocks. While a leaking shock can be noticed immediately and requires replacement, many shocks do wear out without any oil leaks. Therefore, if you experience the following conditions in you car, you need to fix/change your car shocks.

Car bounces too much: If you are driving down the road and your car keeps bouncing after hitting a bump, then your shock absorbers are either worn out or leaking. You can check it yourself if you please, but the best thing to do is to take it to a mechanic as suspension and shock systems involve a lot of math and calculation.

Noises while turning a corner: You notice squeaking, clunking and/or a knocking sound when ever you turn a corner which seems to get worse with time. It is probably because steering gears need to be repaired or lubricated - your suspension parts have worn out or your tires are hitting something. The possible solution to this is to have your car’s suspension system checked for any major problems and have it fixed.

Car Wanders down the road: You notice that while you are driving, you constantly have to correct the car’s direction by turning the steering wheel. The problem increases at high speeds. A cause for this might be the alignment of the wheels, springs in the cars, loose steering linkage and/or front wheel bearings are worn out. In order to solve the problem, you would have to get the suspension and shock system fixed from a specialist. If you are having problems with your car’s suspension system, we are the very best in the business.

About Brisbane Car Services

We specialise in offering the best services for shocks & suspensions in the area. We understand which type of shocks & suspensions your car needs or when they need fixing or replacement. We specialize in servicing BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Toyota, Holden, Ford, Citroen, hummer, Lexus, Honda, Mitsubishi, Mazda, and other brands. Our specialists make sure that you are well-informed about your car’s suspension system, when you need servicing to help keep your shocks & suspensions functioning properly. Our specialists are ‘trained in all types of shocks & suspensions. We provide a detailed diagnosis about your car’s suspension system. We offer high quality shocks and suspension replacement services with low costs. We also offer a vast tyre range including continental, Pirelli, Yokohama, Dunlop, Bridgestone, and Michelin. Don’t worry if your car is at our workshop. We offer pre-arranged customer drop-off to local shopping centre and courtesy vehicles but booking is essential. We are also offering promotional $149 service special (conditions apply).