Shock absorbers do two essential jobs in your vehicle: They regulate the movement of springs and suspension, and they keep your tyres in contact with the road. Which means that when you purchase shock absorbers, high quality and correct suitability are essential.
Given how crucial shock absorbers are, many drivers know little about them, so let's start at the beginning - how they work. As your suspension travels up and down, a piston inside the shock absorber drives hydraulic fluid which slows, or "dampens", spring and suspension movement.
And by their very design, shock absorbers automatically adjust to road conditions... because the faster the suspension moves, the more resistance the shock absorbers provide.
The very first tip to keeping your shock absorbers in good shape is remembering you have them in the first place. You can tell a lot about what kind of shape they are in simply by listening to your vehicle and feeling how it drives...Once you're in the habit of doing that, follow these top tips:
Always bear in mind that your shock absorbers are one piece in the puzzle of your vehicle's suspension, think outside the box when reviewing the condition of your shocks and look out for issues with associated components like ball joints and springs.
Put simply, when your shocks start to wear, replace them fast!
