How much does the average motorist know about shock absorbers? To most people a shock absorber is an unseen component somewhere near the wheel and suspension which never needs to be checked or looked at as it always works and does not wear out or need replacing…..
This is unfortunately not true as a shock absorber (or damper as it should be called) keeps the tyre in contact with the road by “damping” out excessive spring movements and bouncing. As tyres need to keep a grip on the road surface in order for the driver to retain control of the vehicle – without a fully functional shock to keep the tyre in contact with the road surface, no driver would be able to maintain control of a vehicle.
What are the road safety dangers of worn shock absorbers?
• POOR ROADHOLDING: Worn shocks are unable to keep the tyre in contact with the road or even out excessive spring movements and the car become more difficult to control on the road and can be a danger to the driver, passenger and other road users.
• WORN TYRES: When wear prevents the shock from performing its role of keeping the tyre in contact with the road, the tyre bounces, causing worn flat spots which reduce tyre life by a huge margin, resulting in the need for expensive replacements.
• POOR BRAKING: When a car brakes with worn shocks the tyres tend to bounce causing the tyre to lose contact with the road and extends the stopping distance by an extra 2.6 m. This could be the difference between potentially hitting a pedestrian or not.
• AQUAPLANING: If there is a film of water on the road and your car’s tyres are worn, the tyre lifts off the road resulting in complete loss of control. The same thing can happen if you have worn shocks – even if your tyres are good!
• COMPONENT WEAR: Due to the extra movement of the suspension with worn shocks, this causes other suspension and steering components to wear out more quickly.
• HEADLIGHT DAZZLE: Your car will bounce more causing the headlights to blind oncoming traffic.
• FATIGUE: We often have to travel long distances in South Africa. When your car’s shocks are worn, you can experience more driver fatigue as you are unconsciously concentrating on keeping the car on the road. Fatigued drivers are a potential danger to themselves and others.
How can we test our shocks?
Shock absorbers can be tested with a simple bounce test:
• Ensure the car has been driven recently and is on a level surface.
• Do one corner of your vehicle at a time.
• Press down firmly on one corner of the vehicle.
• Your vehicle will push down and bounce back up again.
• As it bounces up again it should rise above its starting point and then setting back to the original starting point (one bounce)
• If it drops below this starting point and then only rises back up to it – your vehicle’s shock more than likely will need replacing.
• Do this to each shock (each corner of your vehicle)
The best road safety advice would be to have your vehicles shocks checked every 20 000km, particularly once a vehicle has reached a mileage of over 70 000km. Do not assume shocks are checked when your car is taken in for a service as this seldom happens; specify that they must be checked or take your car into a specialist fast fitment centre and they will check them for you at no charge.
Information was kindly provided by Monroe shock absorbers to the Arrive Alive road safety website:
• Road Safety and Shock Absorbers
• The Dangers of Worn Shocks
Also view: Road Safety Blog
Road Safety & Arrive Alive Blog 