How to Determine if the Shock Absorber is Faulty?

[PeytonRose]

The shock absorber's function is to suppress the vibration and deformation absorbed by the spring, as well as the oscillation during the spring's rebound, and to absorb the impact force from the road surface. There are four methods to determine if the shock absorber is damaged: 1. Perform an emergency brake on a safe road at a relatively reduced speed and observe if the car's braking posture differs significantly from previous experiences. Excessive vibration indicates a problem with the shock absorber. 2. Oil leakage. Check if there is fresh oil on the shock absorber. If present, the shock absorber is severely leaking and needs immediate replacement. If there is no fresh oil but only some oil stains, the issue is not yet severe. 3. With the car stationary, press down on one corner of the car body and release it. The body will rebound due to the spring force. If it stabilizes quickly after rebounding, the shock absorber is functioning normally. If it oscillates several times before stopping, the shock absorber's damping effect is poor. 4. Abnormal noises. These usually occur when driving on unpaved or rough roads. Since many parts of the chassis can produce sounds, ensure the noise is from the shock absorber before replacing it.