Damper Noise: Causes and Solutions

If you notice unusual noises in shock absorbers or suspension is definitely a problem. In this article, we'll explain how to self-diagnose to determine if you need to change your shock absorbers or your suspensions. We will explain everything to you!

🚘 Why do shock absorbers creak?

. shock absorbers comfort and safety play a role in your car. They reduce shock and vibration while driving and contribute to good vehicle handling. But therefore, they are subject to many stresses and wear out.

Noise is one of the first symptoms of faulty shock absorbers. A shock absorber that squeaks on speed bumps, damaged pavement, or when cornering is a shock absorber in poor condition. Other shock absorber wear symptoms to watch out for:

• of Difficulty driving your carespecially in corners;
• of bus which wear out abnormal;
• of vibrations in the steering wheel and in the car.

Don't ignore a shock absorber that squeaks or exhibits any of these symptoms. Indeed, the consequences of faulty shock absorbers can be serious: extended braking distances, aquaplaning, poor traction, etc.

A shock absorber can be faulty for several reasons. Wear primarily simply because of normal functioning. But the shock absorber can also be damaged:

• One fuite oil ;
• Deformation of the shock absorber cylinder ;
• Oxidation of the shock absorber rod ;
• Wear of his seal ;
• Abnormal wear pneumatic.

Of course, the new squeaky shock absorbers are completely abnormal. The squealing might be coming from somewhere else, such as the anti-roll bar.

🚗 Why is my shock absorber making noise?

A hearing test is effective in determining the type of shock noise and its cause; trust your feelings. To do this, drive at low speed on an open road and open a window to hear the noise better:

• If you notice bumps or bumps, usually on bumps, your rods may be loose.
• If the noise is constant and proportional to speed, your bearings may be damaged.
• If the noise you hear is metallic, especially on bumps and holes, your control levers or links are out of order.

Good to know : If the noise is constant regardless of the speed and type of driving, also check your tires. If one of them is damaged, the attached shock is probably tired. You may have to swap two front or rear shocks.

🔧 How to fix squeaky bumps?

When a shock absorber squeaks, this is a dangerous problem that a professional should look into. To check the condition of the shock absorber, a mechanic will drive your car to test bench... If he discovers an anomaly, you must change shock absorbers your car.

If the shock absorbers are indeed worn out, there is no other solution, as the squeal is convincing evidence. Indeed, a squeaking shock absorber cannot be lubricated or repaired. Replacing shock absorbers is important for your safety.

🇧🇷 How to control its suspension?

It is important to pay attention to the condition of your suspensions because your safety and the safety of your passengers depend on it. Keep in mind that there are several methods of testing your vehicle's suspension, here we will walk you through one called the rebound test.

Required material:

• protective gloves (optional)
• toolbox (optional)

Step 1. Park on level ground.

It is important to run this test on as flat an area as possible so that the test results are not influenced by other variables.

Step 2. Let the machine cool down

If you've just been driving, stop the car and let it cool down for half an hour. This will help you avoid getting burned in the next few steps.

Step 3: Press on the front of the car

Place both hands on the car body above one of the wheels. And with all your weight, apply strong pressure to rock the car. If your car wobbles for a long time after you stop applying this pressure, the suspension arm is probably damaged.

Step 4. Check the back of the car.

Carry out the same test, but this time, for example, in the rear of the car at boot level. Typically, your car should be stable again in one jump. If not, your suspension system is likely damaged.

Another method: You can also check the condition of the front suspension by jacking up the vehicle. The wheel on the tested side should no longer touch the ground. Grasp the sides of the wheel and rotate it from the inside out several times.

If the movements are too much or you need to force in one direction, this means that part of your suspension is in poor condition. During the vertical movement, it touches the ball joints, while in the horizontal direction it is probably the rods.

Good to know : If possible, check the wheels with a second face. You can see faulty components with a flashlight, or notice an oil leak in one of your shock absorbers. In the latter case, intervention will be required to replace the defective shock absorber (s).

💰 At what price to change shock absorbers?

When replacing the shock absorbers, you must also replace the shock absorber cups. In addition, you must then parallelize your vehicle. This makes replacing shock absorbers a bit expensive and usually costly. around 300 €, spare parts and labor included.

Shock absorbers play a vital role in the safety of your vehicle. They are there to absorb shock and provide a ground connection for your vehicle. More than an annoyance, this is a security issue that can be costly in both senses of the word. Therefore, we advise you to quickly contact one of our trusted mechanics.