Shock absorber is amongst the most popular spare parts for cars in the aftermarket for the simple reason that it is essential not only for a smooth ride but also for the life of the vehicle itself. Good shock absorbers ensure that the vehicle is able to adjust to the jerks made imminent by the uneven roads of the countryside while also ensuring that the ride is comfortable for the passengers. In other words, Shock absorbers enable enhanced driver control and passenger comfort while on uneven roads.
Apart from the fact that shock absorbers are also paradoxically called shockers in some countries around the world, there also seem to be many other misconceptions in the minds of people regarding what a shock absorber actually does or how it actually works or absorbs the shocks.
Contrary to popular notion, conventional shock absorbers do not support the weight of a vehicle. The fact is that they help control spring and suspension movement in a vehicle. Shock absorbers work more or less as oil pumps that help in reducing the rate of Bounce, Roll or sway and even Brake dive and Acceleration squats that are felt by the vehicle while being driven. Shock absorbers are able do this by turning the kinetic energy of suspension movement into thermal or heat energy, which is dissipated through the hydraulic fluid in them.
Shock absorbers have a piston rod, which has a piston at its one end and works with the hydraulic fluid on the vehicle's pressure tube. The shock absorbers have hydraulic fluid in them and this fluid is pushed through the tiny holes inside the piston when encountered with a jerk. However, the holes being too small, the piston slows down because of the resistance and also brings down the movement of the suspension and spring.
The amount of resistance a shock absorber can offer depends on the speed with which the suspension moves and the number and size of the holes in the piston of the
shock absorber. Science has made it possible for engineers to develop superior shock absorbers, which are velocity sensitive. These shock absorbers offer great hydraulic damping capabilities and provide more and more resistance depending upon how fast the suspension moves. The more speed by which the suspension moves, the more resistance the shock absorber provides. As such, modern shock absorbers are able to adjust to even the most uneven road conditions.
