A car’s suspension system is essential to driving it safely. That’s why it’s important to know when you need to change shock absorbers and what other related parts should be replaced along with them.
Many probably think that only the engine oil or filters change in the car after a certain number of kilometers. But in addition to these, you also need to change the shock absorbers regularly.
Thus, you make sure that the car’s suspension system is working properly. And the safety of the vehicle is optimal.
What are shock absorbers and how do they help?
Shock absorbers are the most important component of a car’s suspension system. They are mounted on each of the 4 wheels of the car and have the role of absorbing the kinetic energy of the movement.
That is, they absorb the shocks resulting from going over bumps or potholes. Or, as the name suggests, to absorb shocks.
The shock absorber is a cylinder filled with hydraulic fluid or air. It makes the connection between the chassis and the axle. The hydraulic fluid or air inside the damper passes through restrictor valves and resists spring oscillations. This shock absorption prevents wheel jump.
Thus, it helps both to increase comfort and to stabilize the car.
When should you replace shock absorbers?
The rougher the roads you drive on, the faster the shock absorbers wear out.
So, because they are always moving, the lifespan of the dampers is limited.
Even if you drive on smooth asphalt, the shock absorbers wear out because they absorb even the smallest imperfections in the road.
In addition, every time we accelerate, brake or take a turn, the dampers activate. They take the sway of the vehicle and slow down the “dive” effect. That is, that moment when the back goes up and the face goes down, or vice versa.
So not only rough roads but also aggressive driving will cause the dampers to grind faster.
Over time, the seals that keep the hydraulic fluid or air inside the cylinder wear out. Thus, the piston will no longer provide any kind of damping.
In general, the lifespan of shock absorbers is between 80,000 km and 160,000 km. But because the roads in Romania are the way they are, it is recommended that, at least once every 30,000 km, you ask the mechanic to check them. And those that have problems or show signs of wear, should be replaced.
What other parts need to be replaced along with the shocks
As in the case of changing the oil, for example, when we replace the shock absorbers it is advisable to change several other related parts.
„It is recommended that when you change the damper, you also replace the load bearing and the flange. The workmanship is the same because you take them all down anyway. But this way you know that the entire system is new and guaranteed for several tens of thousands of kilometers. Otherwise, you put a new shock absorber and after some time you discover that you have to replace the flange or the bearing and you end up paying double”, mechanic Robert Marin explained to ProMotor.
The mechanic also said that the labor for replacing a shock absorber is, on average, 200-300 lei. But it can increase, depending on the complexity of the system and the type of machine. And the parts for this service generally cost 300-500 lei.
Which means that changing a shock absorber starts, on average, from 500-800 lei. But it can reach several thousand lei, in the case of complex systems.
2023-10-24 12:05:05
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