A car with faulty shock absorbers is very difficult to drive. That is why these machine parts must be checked regularly and replaced if necessary. It is recommended to check the shock absorbers every 20,000 km of the vehicle's run.
Instructions
Step 1
Inspect the shock absorber. The piston rod should be shiny and smooth, without scratches, chips, rust, distortions, etc. If you notice damage on the rod surface, replace the shock absorber. Otherwise, after a while the oil seals will fail, oil will start to leak, and more money and time will have to be spent on car repairs.
Step 2
Check the mount of the shock absorber. If it is attached to the lug, then it is necessary to carefully inspect the bushing and assess the degree of its wear. If the damper is attached with a rod, check if the threads are damaged.
Step 3
Rock the shock by hand with the spring removed. Swing first all the way up, then down. At the same time, you should not feel any dips, jumps, etc. The pumping should take place evenly, without extraneous sounds. Pay attention to the fact that it is very difficult to swing a serviceable shock absorber, it takes a lot of effort to do this. Defective shock absorbers are much easier to swing by hand.
Step 4
Observe the behavior of the car on the road. Shock absorbers wear out gradually, and the more wear and tear, the softer the car's ride becomes. If the driver has noticed a significant change in travel, it is time to replace the shock absorber. Also, failure of shock absorbers can lead to tangible vibrations of the steering wheel when driving at high speed.
Step 5
Rock the car body by pressing firmly on the corners. With serviceable shock absorbers, the body returns to its original position after one or two vibrations, no more. This method helps to identify completely defective shock absorbers that require immediate replacement.
Step 6
Test the vehicle on a shaker. It should be borne in mind that such a check does not guarantee that all defects will be detected. When contacting the service center, be sure to check whether the stand takes into account the age of the car, the type of suspension, replacement of original shock absorbers with non-original ones, etc.
