Shock absorber

Shock absorbers convert mechanical energy to heat, thus absorbing the vibration of the wheel and the chassis. It ensures not just the comfort, but also the safety. Shock absorbers are available with different fill and design.

Types and designs of shock absorbers

According to design:

• Double tube:
  • The benefit is the simplicity of the shock absorbing system.
  • The drawback is the faster warming, which could lead to foaming of oil, and could deteriorate the quality of operation.
  • A shock absorber has a work cylinder installed in the container housing.
    • The piston connected to the rod moves downward when compressed.
    • In the process the oil is pressed through a valve into the lower part of the device and into the outside tube.
    • The process takes place in the opposite order when the shock absorber is extended.
  • The design of shock absorbers can be traditional (pneumatic) or gas operated. In the latter case the outside tube contains nitrogen gas at 5 bar pressure instead of air. This design reduces the tendency of oil to foam, the shock absorber reacts more quickly and makes the system tighter.
• Single tube:
  • The drawbacks mentioned for the double tube version do not appear here.
  • The gas space at the bottom performs the task of the outside tube.
  • The shock absorber is dived into two parts with a plunger. The volume change caused by the moving plunger is counteracted by the gas having a pressure of about 30 bar.

Signs of faulty shock absorber

• Wobbling vehicle body.
• Increased braking distanced.
• Extensive lean of vehicle during turning.
• Knocking, rattling noise during traveling.
• Uneven wear of tyres.
• Oil precipitation on the part.
• The vehicle sinks, pitches during acceleration and deceleration.

Reasons of faulty shock absorber

• Poor quality road surfaces.
• Aggressive driving style.
• Neglecting the recommended service interval. (Most of the manufacturers recommend replacement after 20,000 km run, but at least checking once a year and replacement after 80,000 km.)
• Drastic temperature fluctuation.
• The piston rod becomes dirty due to the damage to the dust shield, which causes wear.
• Lack of oil in the container.
• Fault of parts (the single tube versions are particularly sensitive to this)

Replacing the shock absorber

The faulty shock absorbers have to be replaced, usually they are not repaired. The shock absorbers shall be replaced in pairs. 

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