Is it dangerous to drive with broken shock absorbers?

[NolanMarie]

It is dangerous to drive with broken shock absorbers. Shock absorbers act as dampers in a car's suspension system, ensuring that the wheels quickly return to their normal position after bouncing. Therefore, damaged shock absorbers directly affect driving comfort and can cause varying degrees of body roll when turning. They should be replaced as soon as possible. Below is relevant information about shock absorbers: 1. Introduction: Shock absorbers are used to suppress oscillations after the springs absorb shocks and rebound, as well as impacts from the road surface. They are widely used in automobiles to accelerate the attenuation of vibrations in the chassis and body, thereby improving driving smoothness. When driving on uneven roads, although the suspension springs can filter out road vibrations, the springs themselves still undergo reciprocating motion. Shock absorbers are designed to suppress this spring oscillation. 2. Working Principle: Most shock absorbers used in automotive suspension systems are hydraulic shock absorbers. Their working principle involves the piston inside the shock absorber moving up and down when relative motion occurs between the frame (or body) and the axle due to vibrations. The oil inside the shock absorber chamber repeatedly flows from one chamber to another through different orifices.

[StIsabelle]

I remember driving on mountain roads back to my hometown, and halfway through, the bumps nearly shook me apart. After checking, I found the shock absorbers were completely shot. When these things fail, it's no small matter—the car body wobbles like a spring, and the grip becomes dangerously poor. Taking corners feels terrifying, with the car leaning so much it seems like it's about to roll off the cliff. It’s especially bad in the rain when the tires can barely stay glued to the road. The worst part is the increased braking distance during emergencies—I almost hit a wild dog that suddenly darted out in front of me. Even worse, neglecting repairs can damage other suspension components, turning what could’ve been a few hundred-dollar fix into a full suspension replacement costing seven or eight thousand. Driving shouldn’t be a life-or-death gamble—if you notice strange noises or oil leaks, get it fixed ASAP.

[LaAlejandro]

Last time during maintenance, the mechanic told me the right front shock absorber was leaking oil. I thought I'd save some money and didn't fix it immediately. As a result, during a long-distance drive, the steering felt loose and the steering wheel vibrated so much it made my palms go numb. This condition made me particularly nervous when overtaking on the highway - looking in the rearview mirror, the car body swayed like walking on stilts. The main issue was the tires, which developed wave-like wear patterns in less than three months - a faulty shock absorber causes uneven tire wear on one side, and replacing a new tire costs as much as two sets of shock absorbers. Not to mention the loud clunking noise when going over speed bumps, which even broke two bottles of red wine in the trunk. Now I understand that the small amount I saved back then has all turned into subsequent losses.

[StAniyah]

Those days when my old car's shocks were completely gone felt like torture. Going over a small pothole would make the cabin bounce up and down, with drink cups dancing in the cup holders. Changing lanes on the elevated highway always had the rear end lagging behind, and one time I nearly scraped the guardrail. The most embarrassing moment was when colleagues complained it felt like riding a tractor - the backseat passengers had to hold their stomachs the whole way. One day I noticed a small bulge on the tire sidewall, and the mechanic said it was from irregular tread wear caused by failed shocks. 'If you don't fix this, you might get a blowout while driving,' he warned. I immediately spent 800 yuan on aftermarket replacements, finally restoring normal driving rhythm.

[StLondon]

After ten years in auto repair, I've seen too many owners stubbornly driving with bad shock absorbers. The worst case was an SUV that ran the Sichuan-Tibet route with failed shocks, returning with completely deformed suspension ball joints—repair costs could've bought a new set. More commonly, daily driving leads to bolts loosening from bumps; one salvage car I had lost its tie rod due to vibration. A hidden danger is leaking shock fluid igniting—once popped the hood to find oil smoking on the exhaust. Forget safety risks, just the economics: new shocks cost $500, but neglect might sacrifice tires, bearings, even tow fees. Which makes more sense?