How does your suspension System work
Your car’s suspension system allows you to ride relatively undisturbed while traveling over rough roads and bumps. It also allows your vehicle to corner with minimum roll or sway. This dynamic control keeps the tyres in contact with the road.
The components of your car’s suspension system perform six basic functions:
- Maintain correct vehicle ride height
- Reduce the effect of shock forces
- Maintain correct wheel alignment
- Support vehicle weight
- Keep the tyres in contact with the road
- Control the vehicle’s direction of travel
However, to ensure this happens, all of the suspension components, both front, and rear, must be in good working condition.
What are the components of your suspension system
Your car’s suspension system is made up of struts, shock absorbers, springs, and tyres.
Shocks and struts are important for your driving safety. Their function is to keep the tyres on the road by controlling spring and suspension movements and by maintaining a vertical load on the tyres.
Under normal driving conditions, the shocks on your car stroke’ over one thousand times per kilometer. As a result, shock absorbers wear out quite quickly. To maintain the maximum ride comfort and handling of your vehicle we recommend checking shock absorber performance every 20,000 kilometers and having them changed every 80,000km.
The Danger of Worn Shocks
It only takes one worn shock absorber in your car to compromise your safety. Your braking distance can be increased by two meters, traveling at 50kmh, when your shock absorbers aren’t working properly. This can cause a great deal of damage to your car.
Worn shocks may lead to:
- Excessive tyre bounce
- Poor tyre-to-road contact
- Reduced suspension control
- Premature tyre wear
- Reduced handling and braking performance
- Noise and suspension vibration.