{"id":256,"date":"2021-12-31T01:19:05","date_gmt":"2021-12-30T14:19:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bmtech.com.au\/how-do-i-know-if-i-need-shock-absorber-replacement\/"},"modified":"2022-10-28T14:01:17","modified_gmt":"2022-10-28T03:01:17","slug":"how-do-i-know-if-i-need-shock-absorber-replacement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bmtech.com.au\/how-do-i-know-if-i-need-shock-absorber-replacement\/","title":{"rendered":"How do I Know if I Need Shock Absorber Replacement?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Shock absorbers aren\u2019t just there for ride comfort; they keep your tyres glued to the road. All the movement created by driving, whether it\u2019s braking, accelerating or travelling over uneven surfaces, creates vertical energy that wants nothing more than to make your car jump. If you didn\u2019t have shock absorbers, every trip would be like a Dirty Harry car chase through San Francisco, with more time spent in the air than on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unsafe and uncomfortable. Knowing when you need shock absorber replacement is, therefore, good knowledge to have. Unfortunately, it\u2019s not simply a matter of time; how you drive and where also come into play. Our cars are always trying to communicate with us, however, and there are ways in which they\u2019ll tell us that we\u2019re riding on worn shocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Contrary to popular belief, shock absorbers do not hold up your car. They are there to control the movement of a vehicle\u2019s springs and suspension. They smooth out bumps and vibrations and keep the tyres stuck to the road so you can brake, accelerate and turn \u2013 also known as controlling your car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shock absorbers are oil pumps. They consist of a piston attached to a piston rod which works within hydraulic fluid in a pressure tube. As you drive around and the suspension moves up and down, the hydraulic fluid is forced through tiny holes inside the piston. Because only a small amount of fluid can pass through these holes, the movement of the piston rod is slowed, which in turn slows the movement of the suspension and springs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s a wonderfully simple process that converts the kinetic energy of movement to thermal energy which is then released into the atmosphere through heat exchange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately, there\u2019s no magic number. If you drive predominately in the city at a sedate pace and only on pristine tarmac, you could get up to ten to fifteen years out of your shock absorbers. If you live in reality and have to deal with potholes every now and again, occasionally take a corner too fast and sometimes come across an unsealed road, the lifespan could be closer to five to ten years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The more aggressively you drive, the more work shocks have to do. The same goes for rough and uneven surfaces. These factors will lead to more frequent shock absorber replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most people are instinctively aware of their car\u2019s personality (yes, they have personalities). You should notice if your car is taking longer than usual to come to a halt. If you do, it\u2019s a likely sign that the shocks are worn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If when you brake the car swerves or lurches, the shocks are tired and need to be checked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When shock absorbers are working at their best, there should be little vibration through the steering wheel. So, if you notice an increase in vibration, it\u2019s time to have your shocks checked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We usually feel the effects of strong winds when we\u2019re driving in more open environments. If, however, you notice more sideways movement than usual, it\u2019s a sure sign that your shock absorbers are struggling to do their job. Have them inspected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cars that rock back and forth excessively when going over railway tracks, speed bumps or potholes should have their shocks looked at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shock absorbers play a massive role in allowing you to control your car. If you let them degrade too far, you\u2019re putting yourself, your passengers and other road users at risk. If you happen to be listening to what your car is trying to say and pick up on any of the above signals, drop in to BM Tech<\/a> so our expert team can run an eye over your shock absorbers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Shock absorbers aren\u2019t just there for ride comfort; they keep your tyres glued to the road. All the movement created by driving, whether it\u2019s braking, accelerating or travelling over uneven surfaces, creates vertical energy that wants nothing more than to make your car jump. If you didn\u2019t have shock absorbers, every trip would be like […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":257,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["entry","author-relacion-manager","post-256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-general"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n