Cars, Caravans and Other Vehicles

3 Things That Lead to Leakages in Your Shock Absorber

There is nothing as irritating as taking a ride in a vehicle with bad shock absorbers. It ruins the ride comfort, and you will be bouncing off the seats each time the car hits a bump or pothole. With good shocks absorbers, however, you might not even notice some of the bumpy areas on the road. They absorb energy rather than shock. Bad shocks mean that your vehicle will keep bouncing up and down long after you have passed the bump. Despite their hardy build, shock absorbers are bound to run into a few problems such as leaks. Here is why:  

Age or Mileage

Just like many other consumable parts on your car, age and mileage take a toll on your shock absorbers. Today, most manufactures put so much work into shock absorbers with state-of-the-art technology that allows them to last many years and more than fifty thousand miles. Eventually, too much time on the road makes the shocks weak and susceptible to leakage. When you buy them, the manual will give you some specifications on the period within which you should replace your shocks. However, this is not an absolute figure considering that road conditions, driving habits and dirt affect the durability of your shocks. Some may last longer than you anticipate.

Accidents

Road accidents can have an adverse impact on the components of your car including shock absorbers. Particularly, accidents that directly involve the suspension are likely to damage the shocks. Hitting bumps and potholes at high speed with a laden vehicle is a good example. They lead to dented and bent shock absorbers with cracks and fissures that provide leakage avenues for the hydraulic fluid in the shocks.

Damaged Components

If any of the inner parts on the shock absorbers is damaged, then it will lead a likelihood to a leakage. Shocks have inner components such as movable pistons, valves and seals. All these parts come into contact with the hydraulic fluid at some point and they can lead to leakage if they are not structurally sound. In such cases, the shock may not be able to move properly and absorb the energy as desired by car manufacturers.

Note that some leaks may not be noticeable on the shock absorbers unless you look out for signs of malfunctions on the shocks. Such signs include a bumpy ride, vibrations on the steering wheel or rapid wear on your tires. Any of these signs are enough ground for calling in your mechanic ASAP!


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