Content

• Steps
• Tips

If you feel that the ride of your vehicle has changed, you should check the shock absorbers. Verification is very simple and does not take much time. A simple check will save you an unnecessary visit to the workshop or, conversely, indicate the need for a mechanic to intervene.

Steps

1. 1 Examine the car from the front. Park the machine on a level surface with the hood parallel to the asphalt, i.e. both the right and left side of the machine must be at the same height.
   • If you know the specifications of your suspension, you can measure the ground clearance. If the height is at the minimum value or lower, then you need to call in a car workshop for further inspection and, possibly, repair. The minimum permissible ground clearance is already a sign. If the car sags, it means that something has changed in the suspension and it is no longer in perfect condition.
2. 2 Sag the front of the vehicle to test the shock absorbers for wear. It is not an accurate test, it is more based on visual assessment, but it can be useful when used in combination with other tests.
   • Stand in front of your car and place your foot or knee on the bumper or on any part of the car that will not bend; this section does not have to be on the center line of the vehicle. Shift your weight onto your foot while pushing through the car's suspension. Then quickly remove your leg. The car should quickly return to its original position, without swinging. If the car rocks, it means that the shock absorbers are out of order.
3. 3 Visually inspect struts and shock absorbers. Look for traces of oil spills. If you find a leak from the shock absorber, it is out of order. When the oil seals of a shock absorber begin to leak, its effectiveness decreases.
   • You'd better go to a workshop to confirm your observations and replace defective shock absorbers. If you find traces of liquid on the shock absorber, you should make sure that the oil seal is leaking. Moisture on the shock absorber may be dirt from the road.

Tips

• The shock absorber test is very important. Surveys show that most drivers underestimate the importance of good shock absorber condition to safe driving. Comfort for the driver and passengers is a side effect of the true purpose of a car's suspension. Shock absorbers are needed to maintain vehicle control when hitting bumps and to increase the service life of all suspension elements. Comfort and handling are the result of vehicle design and overall suspension performance.
• Never change one shock absorber. They should change in pairs: two front or two back. If you install OEM shock absorbers, change all 4. If one fails, often the remaining 3 are also in poor condition.