Shock absorbers have two primary roles in a vehicle: they control the movement of the suspension and the springs and keep the car tyres in contact with the ground. This means that if the shock absorbers in your vehicle are not in good condition, your car's overall performance will be affected. Luckily, unlike other parts of the vehicle, shock absorbers give you some evident signs when they are wearing out. If you know where to look, you can identify the problem and fix it before your vehicle's stability on the road is affected. Below are some of the signs that you need to invest in new shock absorbers.
Car takes a long time to stop
When you hit the brakes in your car, you expect the vehicle to come to a stop immediately. However, if the car struggles to stop and halts a few meters from where you hit the brakes, you may have a problem with the shock absorbers. As aforementioned, shock absorbers help to keep your tyres in contact with the ground. When they are not working correctly, your tyres will not be able to get a proper grip on the road's surface. So when you hit the brakes, the wheels may continue rotating, increasing the car's stopping time. You need to get your shock absorbers replaced to restore the performance of the wheels.
Uneven tyre wear
Car tyres should wear out evenly as they rotate at the same speed and are in contact with the ground at the same time. However, when shock absorbers are worn out, they may not be able to place the wheels firmly and evenly on the ground. As a result, some of them will wear out faster than the rest. If your wheels experience uneven wear after regular rotation and servicing, the problem could lie with the shock absorbers. Note that uneven wheel wear could also be as a result of problems with the vehicle's suspension system.
Rattling sounds
Shock absorbers control the movement of the springs and absorb impact and stress exerted on the vehicle as you drive over a bump or on uneven terrain. However, if you notice rattling sounds, this is an indication that the shock absorbers are not able to absorb the stress and impact of the bumps on the vehicle. Besides making you uncomfortable, these rattles can also exert stress and cause wear on other components of the vehicle.
You can maintain the performance of your shock absorbers by ensuring that you don't skip your car servicing schedule. Visit an auto service dealer for logbook services so that you can replace your shock absorbers and troubleshoot your vehicle for faulty parts.
