Know the Symptoms of a Bad Shock Absorber

The shock absorbers absorb the shock that is experienced by the vehicle as the tires are moving on the road.

In other words, the shock absorbers are hydraulic pumps like devices that help to control the impact and rebound movement of your car's springs and suspension.

They ensure that the tires remain in contact with the road surface at all times and provides the safest control and braking response from your car.

Generally, the shock absorbers last for a long period of time, but there is no guarantee that it won't malfunction.

When the shock absorber eventually does go bad, the car comes up with a series of symptoms of which some are listed below.

Steering wheel vibrations

There are numerous components and parts that are inside a shock absorber, such as the piston seals and valves.

When these parts get worn out, fluid will come out of the valves or seals rather than maintain a steady flow.

This results in vibrations which will become more intense if you drive over a pothole, rocky terrain, or a bump.

Uneven tire wear

Shock absorbers help in keeping your tires even and aligned on the road and there are bad shock absorbers, then your tires will wear unevenly.

Generally, the tires wear unevenly as you drive on them because there are different areas of each tire touching the road.

This will only make your driving experience more inconvenient and it will create a bouncing experience.

Swerving

The car might starts swerving when the driver applies the brakes for slowing down, due to a bad shock absorber.

The main reason for this is that all the vehicle’s weight pulls in the opposite direction in which the steering wheel is being turned.

Leaky fluid

There are seals inside the shock absorber which keeps the suspension fluid contained.

When these seals get worn out, the suspension fluid will leak out onto the body of the shock absorber and is visible on the road.

If such leaks go unnoticed, then your vehicle will eventually malfunction after enough fluid leaks from the shock absorber.

Slow braking

A very noticeable symptom of a bad shock absorber is slow braking.

This is when you apply foot pressure to the brake pedal and then the braking system takes a few seconds or more to respond.

This is a clear indication that your shock absorber has gone bad and the problem needs to be addressed immediately.

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