Is Bottoming Out Damaging to Car Shock Absorbers?
2 Answers
The shock absorber assembly includes a limiting buffer block that prevents damage to the shock absorber by avoiding contact with the bottom valve. However, frequent exposure to rough road conditions can accelerate wear on the shock absorber oil seal. It is recommended to check for any oil leakage around the shock absorber (viewed from above the tire). If there is no oil seepage, it should be fine. Additional information: 1. Shock absorbers are primarily used to dampen the oscillations from spring rebound after absorbing shocks and impacts from the road surface. 2. When driving over uneven surfaces, while the shock-absorbing springs can filter out road vibrations, the springs themselves still undergo reciprocating motion, and the shock absorbers are designed to suppress this spring bounce. 3. If the shock absorbers are too soft, the car body will bounce up and down excessively; if they are too hard, they will create excessive resistance, hindering the proper functioning of the springs.
This issue of car shock absorbers bottoming out, I experienced it before while driving on mountain roads. At that time, I had five friends plus luggage in the car. When hitting a pothole, there was a loud clunk and it felt like the entire chassis had scraped the ground. Afterward, the car's body sway became noticeably worse. A later inspection revealed oil leakage from the shock absorber and deformation of the spring. The mechanic said the impact force directly transmitted to the frame could easily cause suspension deformation, even misalignment of the tires. The worst part was my friend's car, which had its half-shaft cracked from repeated bottoming out. My advice: don't ignore it. Slowing down when overloaded or going over potholes is most effective, especially leaving enough suspension travel space when carrying heavy loads.
