shock absorber failure: signs and what affects

shock absorber breakdowns greatly affect the behavior of the car on the road. namely, the body of the car "dives" during acceleration and braking, the braking distance increases, it rolls heavily during maneuvering and sways when driving over bumps.

There are obvious and hidden signs of faulty shock absorbers. The obvious ones include the appearance of oil leaks (wear of the stuffing box and / or rod), but more are still hidden, for example, oil aging, deformation of the valve mechanism plates, wear of the piston seal and the inner walls of the working cylinder. in order to avoid unpleasant consequences, it is necessary to determine the breakdown of shock absorbers in time.

Signs of broken shock absorbers

There are two types of signs that a shock absorber has completely or partially failed. The first type is visual. namely, they can be identified by visual inspection of the shock absorber. The second type of signs should include changes in the behavior of the car in motion. Let us first list the signs related to the second type, since first of all you need to pay attention to how the behavior of the car has changed, namely:

• Swinging during braking and acceleration. If the shock absorbers are in good condition, then even with sudden braking, the car should swing back no more than once, after which the shock absorber should dampen the oscillatory movements. If there are two or more swings - a symptom of a partial or complete failure.
• Roll when maneuvering. Here the situation is similar, after exiting a sharp roll when entering a turn, the body should not swing in the transverse plane. If so, then the shock absorber has failed.
• Increased stopping distance. This factor is due to the same buildup during braking. That is, during prolonged braking, the shock absorber does not dampen the vibration, and the car periodically lowers and raises the front of the body. Because of this, the load on the front wheels is reduced, which reduces the braking efficiency. Especially the braking distance increases in cars equipped with anti-lock brakes. This is due to the fact that the rear part rises, and the ABS reduces the pressure in the brake line. the braking distance also increases when braking on rough roads.
• the car does not hold the road. namely, when the steering wheel is set in a straight position, the car constantly leads to the side. Accordingly, the driver must constantly taxi in order to align the trajectory of movement.
• Movement discomfort. It may manifest itself in different ways. namely, from rocking the car, some drivers and / or passengers feel discomfort when driving for a long distance, suffering from “seasickness” (the official name is kinetosis or motion sickness) people can get motion sickness. This effect is a typical symptom of a broken rear shock absorber.

Please note that signs such as increased stopping distance, uneven tire wear and constant need to steer may indicate other problems in the vehicle, such as worn brake pads, low brake fluid, uneven tire pressure, problems with the ball joint or other components. pendants. Therefore, it is desirable to make a comprehensive diagnosis. Visual symptoms of shock absorber wear include:

• The appearance of streaks on the body and stem. namely, this is due to wear of the stuffing box (seal) and / or shock absorber rod. A decrease in the oil level leads to a decrease in the operating amplitude of the device, as well as to an increase in the wear of the parts included in its design.
• Wear of silent blocks. As you know, in this rubber-metal hinge, mobility is ensured by the elasticity of rubber (or polyurethane, depending on the design). Naturally, if the shock absorber works hard, then increased efforts will be transferred to the silent block, which will lead to its serious wear and failure. Therefore, when diagnosing shock absorbers, it is always worth checking the condition of the silent blocks.
• Damage to the shock absorber housing and / or its fasteners. This can be expressed in different ways. For example, the appearance of rust on the rod (stand, support), curvature of the body, damage to the mounting bolts, and so on. Whatever the case, the shock absorber must be carefully examined.
• Uneven tire wear. Usually they wear more on the inside and less on the outside.

That is, if there is a breakdown of the shock absorbers, then wait for the failure of other suspension elements, because they are all interconnected and can be influenced by each other.

What causes shock absorber failure

The use of worn shock absorbers can not only cause discomfort when driving, but also cause a real danger when driving a car. So, the possible problems associated with the breakdown of the shock absorber:

• Decreased road grip. namely, when the car is rocking, the clutch will have a variable value.
• Increased stopping distance, especially on vehicles with anti-lock braking system (ABS).
• Incorrect operation of some electronic systems of the car is possible, such as ABS, ESP (exchange rate stability system) and others.
• Deterioration of vehicle controllability, especially when driving at high speed.
• The appearance of "hydroplaning" when driving on wet roads at low speeds.
• when driving at night, the constant rocking of the front of the car can cause the headlights to blind oncoming drivers.
• Discomfort when moving. This is especially true when driving long distances. For the driver, this threatens with increased fatigue, and for people prone to "seasickness", it is dangerous with motion sickness.
• Increased wear of tires, rubber bushings, silent blocks, bumpers and springs. and other vehicle suspension components.

Causes of shock absorber failure

The causes of failure are usually natural causes, including:

• Aging of shock-absorbing liquid (oil). Like other technological fluids in a car, the oil in the shock absorber gradually gains moisture and loses its performance properties. Naturally, this leads to the fact that the shock absorber starts to work harder than it worked before. However, it must be understood that fluid aging does not occur overnight, with the exception of a rupture of the seal on the shock absorber body.
• Broken seal. namely, the sealing of the piston and the inner walls of the working cylinder. The oil seal can break due to external factors or simply in the aging process. It, like any rubber seal, tans over time and begins to leak liquid. Because of this, oil leaks from the shock absorber, as well as moisture from the outside entering the oil, which leads to a deterioration in its performance.
• Deformation of the valve plates. This process is also natural and occurs on an ongoing basis, albeit at different speeds. So, the rate of deformation depends on two basic factors - the quality of the shock absorber (the quality of the metal of the plates) and the operating conditions of the car (naturally, a significant shock load leads to premature deformation).
• Gas leak. This is true for gas-filled shock absorbers. The essence here is the same as for oil-filled devices. The gas here performs a damping function, and if it is not there, then the shock absorber will not work either.
• Failure of silent blocks. They wear out for natural reasons, lose their elasticity and performance. These components are practically not subject to repair, therefore, if they fail, they simply need to be replaced (if possible, or the shock absorbers should be completely changed).

How to determine the breakdown of shock absorbers

Car owners are concerned about the question of how to check an oil or gas-oil shock absorber for a reason. This is due to the fact that modern shock-absorbing devices often have a more complex design than older models, which makes diagnostic measures more complicated. Therefore, ideally, you need to check them in a car service at a special stand. However, there are a number of "garage" methods of verification.

body swing

The simplest, "old-fashioned" method is to rock the car body. namely, swing its front or rear part, or shock absorbers separately. You need to swing strongly, but at the same time do not bend the body elements (in practice, such cases occur!). In theory, you need to achieve the maximum possible swing amplitude, then release the body and look at its further vibrations.

If the shock absorber is working, then the body will make one swing (or one and a half), after which it will calm down and remain in its original position. In the event that the shock absorber has a breakdown, then the body will produce two or more vibrations. In this case, it must be replaced.

True, it is worth noting that the buildup method is suitable for cars with a simple suspension system, for example, the VAZ-"classic" (models from VAZ-2101 to VAZ-2107). Modern cars often use a complex (often multi-link) suspension, so it will dampen the resulting vibrations even with faulty shock absorbers. Therefore, with the help of the buildup of the body, by and large, it is possible to determine two boundary conditions - the damper is completely out of order, or it wedges during operation. It is not easy to identify the “average” states of the shock absorber with the help of buildup.

Visual inspection

When diagnosing a problematic shock absorber, it is imperative to make a visual inspection of it. To do this, you need to drive the car into a viewing hole or raise it on a lift. You can, of course, dismantle the shock absorber, but this can take a lot of time and effort. During the inspection, it is imperative to check for oil smudges on the shock absorber housing. You can wipe the traces of oil with a rag and leave it like that for a few days. After this period, the test should be repeated.

If the car is raised on a lift, it is advisable to check the condition of the shock absorber rods. They should be free of rust and damage. If they are, then the device is at least partially faulty and additional diagnostics need to be performed.

When inspecting, be sure to pay attention to the nature of tire wear. Often, when shock absorbers are broken, they wear out unevenly, usually, the base wear goes to the inside of the tire. there may also be isolated bald patches of wear on the rubber. However, tread wear can also indicate other failures in the suspension elements, so additional diagnostics are also needed here.

If the breakdown of the front shock absorber (strut) is checked, it is necessary to inspect the springs and upper supports. Damping springs must be intact, free of cracks and mechanical damage.

Often, even a partially defective shock absorber may not have visual traces of a breakdown. Therefore, it is desirable to perform a comprehensive diagnosis, best of all in a car service.

Vehicle control check

If the shock absorber / shock absorbers are faulty, then while driving, the driver will feel that the car is “prowling” along the road, that is, it will be necessary to constantly steer in order to keep it in a rut. When accelerating and braking, the car will sway. A similar situation is with the lateral tilts of the body. At the same time, it is not necessary to accelerate to a significant speed, the city speed mode is quite suitable for checking. namely, at a speed of 50 ... 60 km / h, you can make a sharp acceleration, braking, snake.

Please note that if the shock absorber is almost "dead", then entering a sharp turn at high speed is dangerous, as it is fraught with a rollover on its side! This is especially true for cars with a powerful internal combustion engine.

When to change shock absorber

you need to understand that regardless of the quality of the shock absorber, as well as the operating conditions of the car, wear of this unit occurs constantly. With more or less speed, but constantly! Accordingly, it is also necessary to check their condition constantly. Most mid-priced shock manufacturers recommend perform a check every 20 ... 30 thousand kilometers. As for replacement, the shock absorber is usually significantly wears out after about 80 ... 100 thousand kilometers. At this stage, you need to make a more thorough check of it and, if necessary, replace it.

And in order for the shock absorbers to serve as long as possible, be guided by the following recommendations:

• Do not overload the machine.. The manual for any car directly indicates its maximum load capacity. Do not overload the car, because it is harmful to its various components - including the internal combustion engine and suspension elements, namely, shock absorbers.
• Let it come to work. when driving a car in the cold season (especially in severe frosts), try to drive the first 500 ... 1000 meters at low speed and avoid bumps. This will warm up and spread the oil.

so, if there are problems with shock absorbers, it is better not to tighten it, and replace the problem nodes with new ones. As for the purchase, it is better to buy licensed shock absorbers from the "officials". Or make a choice of goods in trusted stores, based on the reviews of motorists.