What are the symptoms of a broken car shock absorber?
2 Answers
Shock absorbers that are broken exhibit the following symptoms: 1. Shock absorber oil leakage. A normal shock absorber has a dry and clean outer surface. If there is oil leakage, it indicates that the hydraulic oil inside the shock absorber has escaped from the upper part of the piston rod, meaning the shock absorber is basically ineffective. 2. When the car passes over bumpy roads or speed bumps, a certain wheel makes a "clunking" sound, indicating that the shock absorber on that wheel has poor damping performance or has failed. 3. When the car is turning, there is a noticeable increase in body roll, and in severe cases, even skidding may occur. This is mainly because the damping force of the shock absorber is too small to effectively suppress the compression of the spring. 4. After driving on rough road conditions for a while, touch the outer shell of each shock absorber to feel its temperature. Normally, the outer shell of the shock absorber should be warm. If a certain shock absorber's outer shell is cold, it means that shock absorber is damaged. 5. When the car is stationary, press down on one corner of the car body and then release it. The body will rebound under the force of the spring. If it stabilizes quickly after rebounding, it means the shock absorber is functioning properly.
The most obvious symptom is the loud clunking noise when going over bumps, as if sitting on a spring mattress. I experienced this when driving my uncle's car—after hitting a speed bump, the rear wheels would bounce up and down several times before stabilizing. The steering wheel also starts to feel loose, and during turns, it feels like the rear end is about to swing out. When braking, the front end dips sharply, and it's especially prone to skidding in rainy conditions. Once on the highway, when driving over undulating road surfaces, the car swayed side to side like a boat, scaring me into slowing down immediately. If you notice these symptoms, it's advisable to check the shock absorbers and also inspect whether the buffer rubber blocks have aged, as these two parts usually fail together.
