Automotive shock absorbers front and rear

A shock absorber is a damping device used in a car to effectively absorb shocks and shocks, dampen vibrations, etc. In addition, a shock absorber (car strut) allows you to press the wheel against the road when you drive nervously, thus improving traction, improving braking efficiency, vehicle stability, etc.

Today, there are various types and types of shock absorbers, which differ not only in the axis on which they rest (front shock absorbers or rear shock absorbers), but also in design.

Next, we will see what a shock absorber is and what kind of device a car shock absorber is. So, within the framework of the article, it is separately emphasized what shock absorbers are on cars, the types of struts, how they differ, and the advantages and disadvantages of various types of struts, etc. are considered.

Car shock absorbers rear and front: what you need to know

Let's start with the fact that today there are several types of shock absorbers for cars. At the same time, it is important to understand that there are structural differences between them and differ very little in terms of efficiency and functionality. Let's figure it out.

• First of all, the purpose of shock absorbers is to dampen shocks and vibrations that are transmitted to the body when the car is moving. Shock absorbers or struts work in conjunction with other elastic elements of the car's suspension (for example, springs, silent blocks, anti-roll bars, etc.).

One way or another, thanks to shock absorbers, it is possible to significantly improve the smoothness of the car, eliminate accumulation (both longitudinal and transverse), achieve better handling and stability of the car on the road.

• Now let's move on to the device. Simply put, any shock absorber works on compression and rebound. Hydraulic shock absorbers were the first to be widely used in automobiles. At the same time, telescopic piston oil shock absorbers based on the principle of liquid friction are still used today.

Taking into account the fact that a telescopic shock absorber is installed everywhere on machines, we will analyze this type in more detail. Simply put, such a damper works due to the fact that the liquid (oil) flows from one cavity to another through special calibrated holes. Essentially, telescoping struts work by forcing liquid with a piston through calibrated holes.

Depending on what force the piston experiences and in what mode the rail operates, the liquid will exit through holes of different diameters. The frictional energy of the liquid during the operation of the rack is converted into heat, and the general principle of operation allows it to dampen vibrations. In addition, the frame works in both compression and rebound.

• Let's go there. As a rule, motorists do not always pay attention to the types of shock absorbers. It is important to understand that there are significant differences between them. The fact is that the suspension shock absorber can be not only front or rear, but also single-tube, two-tube or combined, as well as oil, gas or gas-oil (gas / oil frame).

It turns out that if you need to buy rear or front shock absorbers, as well as all 4 racks for the car, it is important to consider the features and differences of each type. In addition, if one or another type of shock absorber is selected incorrectly, it can affect handling as well as ride comfort.

Types of car shock absorbers

As you can see, the car strut is an important element in the suspension system. In addition, the shock absorber strut directly affects not only comfort, but also handling. For this reason, you need to know how to choose the right front shock absorbers or rear struts, taking into account the characteristics of different types of such devices.

So, telescopic shock absorbers are single-tube and two-tube combined. Also, modern versions may have the function of flexible shock absorber adjustment (adaptive suspension).

• The first option is single-tube or single-tube shock absorbers. Such racks have only one cylinder, which acts as a housing for the piston and rod. To compensate for the volume of the bar, a separate gas-filled chamber was made. The floating piston separates the gas from the liquid.

On such a frame, the oil pressure in gas-filled shock absorbers can reach up to 30 atmospheres. The main advantage of such racks is excellent cooling, preservation of properties on any road, as well as the ability to install a shock absorber at any angle. This is possible because there is a physical barrier between the chamber with gas and oil, preventing them from mixing.

As for the minuses, this is the complexity of manufacturing and the extremely high cost. Since the pressure inside the pipe is very high, the body must be as strong as possible. It should also be noted that when a stone hits a single-tube shock absorber, the cylinder wall is bent and the piston may jam. Due to such features, such racks are often placed only on sports cars.

• Twin-tube shock absorbers differ from single-tube shock absorbers in that they have two cylinders that are one inside the other (the inner cylinder contains oil and a piston that is connected to the suspension through a rod).

The outer cylinder is partially filled with air and acts as an expansion tank. This reservoir is necessary for the flow of fluid displaced by the rod. This design is economical, has an acceptable life and efficiency under normal conditions.

At the same time, he was not without flaws. The main problem is overheating and foaming of the oil, since the double walls do not allow the oil to cool well. In difficult conditions, the oil simply “boils” in the shock absorber, the car shakes, handling and stability deteriorate.

• Gas-oil shock absorbers (combined) - an option that combines the advantages of single-tube and double-tube shock absorbers. The design resembles a two-pipe frame, and the main difference is that instead of air, gas is injected into the outer cylinder under pressure.

The advantages include affordable cost, compactness, good performance in various conditions, efficient cooling and an acceptable service life. On the downside, these combo frames are inferior to single tube shocks in terms of performance and also worse in comfort compared to classic twin tube shocks.

• Adjustable shock absorbers allow the rider to customize the strut for a specific application. In modern cars, this is done electronically in automatic or manual mode.

Briefly, two types of such struts can be distinguished: electromagnetic ones based on electromagnetic bypass valves and shock absorbers using a special magnetorheological fluid. In the first case, electronics change the operation of the valves, which affects the removal of fluid and changes the stiffness of the shock absorber.

In the second, an electromagnetic field acts on oil particles near the bypass holes. As a result, the viscosity of the oil changes, again this affects the bypass and changes the stiffness of the shock absorber.

Both the first and second types of adjustable racks have a high cost. Also, judging by the reviews of CIS car owners, one can single out a relatively small resource of these shock absorbers during active driving on rough roads.

• Sports shock absorbers or heavy duty shock absorbers are designed from the ground up for heavy duty and heavy duty applications. As a rule, these frames are stiffer for better handling of the car.

At the same time, comfort in this case is relegated to the background, since the main task of such trunks is the maximum stability of the car on the road, especially at high speeds and hard work.

We also added that the front shock absorber experiences a higher load when driving compared to the rear struts. That is why they are also made somewhat reinforced. However, there are separate reinforced shock absorbers, both on the front and rear axles.

It should also be noted that the front and rear shock absorbers can be of a twin-tube design, while twin-tube shock absorbers are most often placed on the rear axle, taking into account less loads, as well as to increase comfort.

Shock absorber malfunctions: signs and symptoms, check

Given the above information, you will be able to understand which shock absorber struts are best to choose in a particular case. Then, once you have decided on the type, you need to choose a manufacturer, study the catalog and buy shock absorbers from suitable options available for replacement.

At the same time, not all drivers know exactly when it is necessary to change car grilles. From some motorists you can hear that the front shock absorber works 50-60 thousand km, the rear shock absorber works up to 100 thousand km, the gas shock absorber lasts 30-50% longer than the oil one, etc.

In some cases, it is recommended to simply monitor the racks, paying attention to oil drops, knocks, sticking and noise, while in others it is strongly recommended to visit a vibrator or simply change shock absorbers based on mileage. Let's look at these questions in more detail.

First of all, there are several signs that the shock absorber struts have failed:

• accumulation when driving even on a flat road;
• all irregularities are rigidly transmitted to the body, bumps are felt on the steering wheel;
• the car rolls in corners, does not hold the trajectory;
• there were bumps and extraneous noise when driving in the area of ​​the racks;
• decrease in braking efficiency, drift in one direction or another, etc.

Please note that this behavior of the car and the appearance of these signs is possible for other reasons. To understand exactly when the shock absorbers are bad or have failed completely or partially, you need to start with a visual inspection of the shock absorbers.

If you see grooves in relation to oil and gas-oil shock absorbers, this will indicate that the shock absorber is “sweating” or has a complete leak, the tightness is lost. If it is possible to check the rack, it is better to remove it from the car and pump it manually.

If this is not possible, it is enough to open the hood, lean against the rack area and press the body against the rack as much as possible, then release it sharply.

In the event that the shock absorber works (at least partially), the body will return to its original position and no more than one or two vibrations are allowed. If the buildup is noticeable (several fluctuations), then the shock absorber does not perform its functions, and the body sways on the springs.

In fact, oil leakage through the damper gland, which manifests itself in the form of oil streaks, indicates a loss of tightness in the area of ​​​​the stem gland.

This can happen as a result of damage to the shock absorber bushing, after which the stem becomes dirty. The stem itself can also be deformed after driving over bumps in the road, potholes, etc.

In any case, even if the shock absorber is still working, then this is not for long and it is necessary to prepare for replacement, since gas and liquid leak from the shock absorber, the damping properties of the shock absorber deteriorate noticeably.

It should be noted that in practice, front shock absorbers on domestic roads of middle-class cars usually cover no more than 60-70 thousand km, after which their performance begins to deteriorate.

It happens that even if the racks are dry on runs of about 90-100 thousand km, all the same, for such a run, their performance does not exceed 30-40%. As for the rear pillars, they usually go 30-40 thousand km more than the front ones.

Useful Tips

If you analyze the information received, it becomes clear that if you need to choose one or another shock absorber, the price will be different. The cost will be affected by the type of the trunk itself, as well as the main purpose (for the front or rear axle). As a general rule, rear shocks will be cheaper than front shocks because they are easier to manufacture and do not require additional reinforcement compared to heavier front shocks.

However, it is not worth saving much on replacement. First of all, shock absorbers are changed in pairs on the same axle. Also, if you need to replace the shock absorber, you can buy an expensive original solution or an analogue of a well-known brand, as well as cheaper racks. At the same time, you need to be prepared for the fact that inexpensive shock absorbers can work very poorly from the very beginning, do not meet the declared characteristics and quickly fail.

It is still not recommended to save on the rear racks. In some cases, an attempt to put medium or high class shock absorbers on the front axle and cheap struts on the rear axle leads to a deterioration in handling and a decrease in comfort. It is optimal to install racks of the same price category and one manufacturer on the front and rear axles.

Finally, we note that the choice of shock absorber must be conscious; when choosing, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics discussed above separately. It is also important to consider driving style, road conditions in the region, individual preferences, vehicle performance and a number of other parameters. In this case, you need to buy racks only from trusted sellers and install them correctly on the machine.

The reason is that there are many low-quality fakes on the market, and not all craftsmen follow the mandatory rules and recommendations when replacing struts (checking shock absorbers, properly pumping shock absorbers before installation, etc.).