The shock absorbers in your car are perhaps one of the most durable parts of the vehicle. After all, they are designed to withstand and soften the impact of shocks to the rest of the vehicle.

This robust durability often leads to drivers overlooking the signs of wear and tear in their shock absorbers. 

While most shock absorbers are designed for longevity, they do have a finite lifespan. Ignoring the signs of wear and tear to your shock absorbers affects every other part of your vehicle. 

However, the perceived cost of repairing or replacing shock absorbers often discourages drivers from investigating weird noises coming out of their shock absorbers. 

What most drivers don’t realise is that as your shock absorbers lose their ability to reduce the impact of shocks on other parts of the car, the other parts also start wearing off at an accelerated pace.

Thankfully, even drivers that don’t have a ton of knowledge about cars or shock absorbers can easily notice signs of damage and wear and tear. All you need to know is what signs to look for and in this article, we will be helping you with exactly that information. 

Then, by purchasing the right performance shock absorbers, from PartsGeek you can save the other parts of your car from accelerated wear and tear. The best part is, performance shock absorbers will last much longer than the basic OEM shock absorbers that are installed in most mid-level cars.

Let’s look at the common signs of failing or bad shock absorbers:

Unusual Noises

As the shock absorbers of a car wear off, the strut loses its support. When this happens, it hits the bottom end of the shock absorber and the sound of metal clashing can be heard inside the cabin. This noise usually feels like it's coming from one (or more) of the wheels.

Another commonly heard noise coming from the shock absorbers can be attributed to a phenomenon called tire cupping. When the shock absorbers malfunction, they cause the tires of your vehicle to recoil with an unnecessarily large force, causing the metal parts to clash against each other.

Noises coming out of the shock absorbers are usually a sign of a serious problem that should be checked by a professional at the earliest.

Thankfully, most noise related problems in shock absorbers don’t render your car completely useless. You can still slowly (and safely) drive it to a mechanic for a repair.

The Vehicle Dives When Brakes Are Applied

Besides reducing the impact of shocks from uneven or broken roads, another important function of shock absorbers is to keep your vehicle stable while driving. When the shock absorbers start failing, this is one of the first functions that takes a hit.

If your vehicle dives when you apply brakes, chances are that the front shock absorbers of your vehicle are damaged or failing. 

A problem with the front shock absorbers doesn’t just make your car dive when the brakes are applied, it also increases the braking distance. This change in the braking distance can have some serious repercussions in real life driving conditions on the road.

Such a problem can put some serious stress on the front wheels and the braking mechanism of your vehicle. Thus, before a shock absorber problem evolves into a brake or wheels problem, it is advisable to seek help from a professional mechanic.

The Vehicle ‘Takes Off’ When Sudden Acceleration Is Applied

Similar to what we discussed in the previous point, if your vehicle’s rear shock absorbers are worn out, the rear end of your car will take a dive.

While this may feel like it's because your car’s performance is great, unusually low dives usually refer to a problem with the rear shock absorbers.

Many vehicle owners may also think that this is not a serious problem and they can continue using their vehicle for a while without having to visit a mechanic. However, the case is quite the contrary.

If your shock absorbers are not able to keep your vehicle stable, it will affect the handling capabilities. While this may not be apparent in most driving situations, such problems with handling can mean the difference between life and death in emergency situations.

An unstable car isn’t just a safety threat for the passengers inside your vehicle, it is also a threat for everyone on the road that is around you.

Subtle Signs Of Body Roll

Just like failed shock absorbers can cause your car to dip or squat, they can also cause your car to lean a little too much into the turns. Cars with failing shock absorbers tend to lean into even mild turns taken at slow speeds.

While noticing this sign might be a little more difficult than noticing the other signs mentioned in this article, if you do notice your car leaning too much into the curves, the problem is serious. 

Once again, a seemingly unnoticeable body roll can turn into a serious safety threat on the road. Even if you are not sure that your vehicle is leaning too much, even if you have a slight doubt, it is well worth your time to have a professional mechanic assess the condition of your vehicle’s shock absorbers.

Excess Vibration In The Steering Wheel

Feeling vibrations in your steering wheel when passing through a rough patch on the road is a common occurrence and nothing to be alarmed about.

However, if you constantly feel vibrations in your steering wheel, or it starts vibrating violently when your vehicle is travelling at a high speed, then it is an indication that something is wrong with your car’s shock absorbers. 

Conclusion

The shock absorbers of your car play a crucial role in ensuring a smooth and safe ride. Overlooking the health of your car’s shock absorbers will not just result in the requirement of more expensive repairs down the line, but will also make driving your car a safety hazard.