Shock Absorber
OIL+GAS
ISO/TS 16949

A Shock Absorber is a mechanical device designed to smooth out or damp shock impulse, and dissipate kinetic energy. In a vehicle, shock absorbers reduce the effect of traveling over rough ground, leading to improved ride quality and increase in comfort. While shock absorbers serve the purpose of limiting excessive suspension movement, their intended sole purpose is to dampen spring oscillations. Shock absorbers use valving of oil and gasses to absorb excess energy from the springs. Spring rates are chosen by the manufacturer based on the weight of the vehicle, loaded and unloaded.

The job of absorbing the jolts that result when the wheels pass over bumps or dips is handled mostly by the springs. Shock absorbers would more accurately be named dampers, as they are called in the United Kingdom. Their main job is to damp the motion mentioned above, keeping the vehicle’s body from bouncing down the road on its springs. In fact, the simplest shock absorber test is to push down on the vehicle’s bumper; a healthy shock absorber or MacPherson strut will allow the body to rebound but quickly come to rest. If the vehicle goes into a prolonged bounce cycle, the shock needs to be replaced. Bad shocks or struts aren’t safe because they fail to maximize tire contact with the road, which degrades handling and braking.