Why You Should Replace Your Shock Absorbers

Shock Absorbers are the critical suspension component that controls your vehicle’s bounce while driving over rough roads. Shock absorbers are designed to force a piston through a reservoir of fluid, cushioning the up-and-down motion of your vehicle’s springs by introducing damping forces.

A shock absorber’s valving is tailored to each vehicle’s weight, axle design and suspension springs to ensure effective wheel bounce damping. When a shock absorber is leaking, deteriorated or needs replacement, your vehicle will lose its ability to handle uneven road conditions, making for a bumpy ride.

Shock absorbers are also designed to reduce the bouncing caused by the reversal of acceleration after the initial contact with the ground. This feature is called "acceleration sensitive damping," or ASD. It allows the shock absorber to react faster to each bump in the road, preventing your car from feeling shaky when you accelerate or hit a pothole.

Even if you have the most modern of vehicles, your shock absorbers will wear down over time and eventually need to be replaced. This process happens very slowly over tens of thousands of miles, so it can be difficult to notice until your car begins to drive differently. The easiest way to check your shock absorbers is by observing the car’s behavior over small bumps in the road. Small differences in handling, like your car leaning excessively when turning or bouncing over smaller bumps, are easy signs that your shock absorbers or struts need replacement.