How Do Shock Absorbers Work?

Shock Absorbers explained
Simply put, shock absorbers are hydraulic (oil) pump like devices that help to control the movement of your vehicle’s springs and suspension. That makes them a vitally important part of your vehicle’s ability to accelerate, travel and stop with safety and control.

What are shock absorbers?
Shock absorbers are quite possibly the most misunderstood part of any vehicle’s essential systems – most people don’t even realise they’re designed to keep your tyres in contact with the road! Your steering, stability, handling, ride comfort and brakes all rely on your shock absorbers to function at optimum levels. Monroe Shock absorbers provide safety and control for most of the vehicles on, and off, our roads.

What do shock absorbers do?
Essentially, shock absorbers do two things. Apart from controlling the movement of springs and suspension, shock absorbers also keep your tyres in contact with the ground at all times. At rest or in motion, the bottom surface of your tyres is the only part of your vehicle in contact with the road. Any time that a tyre’s contact with the ground is broken or reduced, your ability to drive, steer and brake is severely compromised.
Despite popular belief, shock absorbers do not support the weight of a vehicle.

Signs of worn shock absorbers

	Nose Dip Nose-diving and swerving If the bonnet of your car dips when you brake or slow down, or your vehicle swerves under brakes, you may have a shock absorber problem.
	Trouble stopping Worn shock absorbers can add as much as 20% to your stopping distance. That’s the sort of fault that can be fatal and requires immediate attention.
	Trouble stopping Bad vibes Uncomfortable steering wheel vibration could be shock absorbers.
	Side slide If your car veers in side winds, particularly when the wind isn’t so strong, you could have shock absorber problems.
	Shake, rattle & roll Notice that your car ‘rock and rolls’ over bumps, railway tracks or uneven surfaces? Not hugging the bends? Time to get those shock absorbers checked then!
	Uneven tyre wear If your tyres are wearing unevenly, particularly if there are bald patches, odds are it’s your shock absorbers.

Information kindly supplied by Monroe