How do I check the shock absorber cups?
Content
The shock absorber cups, also called shock brackets, are shaped like a circle on the shock absorbers. The shock absorber spring twists the cups, which can be fitted with a rod and anti-roll bar. The shock absorber cup consists of an elastic stopper, a metal fitting and a bearing ring. If you experience a loss of traction on the road or hear crackling and squealing, you should check the shock absorbers.
Required material:
- Protective gloves
- Protective glasses
- Wedges
- Microfiber cloth
- Jack
- Candles
Step 1. Park your car
Start by looking for a flat surface to immobilize your vehicle. Then you will need to turn on the handbrake of the car and put chocks under the wheels. These two steps are necessary to ensure your safety in the following steps.
Step 2: check the balance of the car
Stand facing the hood of the car and make sure it does not tilt to one side or the other. Indeed, he must be absolutely straight in order to check his balance. Apply more or less pressure to each corner of the vehicle, and always check for rebound. It should not perform more than one rebound, otherwise it will reflect wear on the shock absorber cups. This imbalance in the vehicle will also affect the tires, which will wear out prematurely and unevenly.
Step 3. Check the condition of the tires
If you have not noticed any problems with the balancing of your car, you can proceed to check the tires. Special attention should be paid to the tread if it shows uneven wear on one side of the tire, which means that the shock absorber cups are defective. Tread wear can be checked by using a visible wear indicator or by measuring the tread pattern of the tire, which must be at least 1.6 mm.
Step 4: Visually inspect the shock absorbers.
Finally, you will stand under the car to observe the condition of the shock absorbers. Feel free to remove the wheel chocks to use the jack and jack stands to lift the vehicle. This will give you more room to access the bottom of the car. The most alarming symptom is the presence of oil along the shock absorbers. After all, the scheme of the latter must be completely waterproof. This way you will wipe off excess oil with a microfiber cloth, but you will need to take your car to the garage.
A professional can check various parts of the shock absorber system and replace those that are out of order.
If the check of the shock absorber cups is unsuccessful, you will have to replace them. This operation is quite complex and requires the intervention of an experienced mechanic. This will modify the suspension kit to allow your vehicle to regain optimal traction when driving on board.
