What Causes Rust at the Top Mounting Point of a Car's Shock Absorber?
2 Answers
This area is generally prone to water accumulation, leading to rust. Below is relevant information about shock absorbers: 1. Introduction: A shock absorber (Absorber) is used to dampen oscillations from spring rebound after absorbing vibrations and impacts from the road surface. Widely used in automobiles, it accelerates the attenuation of frame and body vibrations to improve ride comfort. When traversing uneven roads, while suspension springs can filter road vibrations, the springs themselves still undergo reciprocating motion, and shock absorbers are employed to suppress this spring oscillation. 2. Working Principle: Most automotive suspension systems use hydraulic shock absorbers. Their working principle involves the piston moving up and down when relative motion occurs between the frame (or body) and axle due to vibrations, causing the hydraulic fluid inside the shock absorber to repeatedly flow from one chamber to another through various orifices.
I've seen many cars with rust on the top of their shock absorbers, mainly because this area is frequently exposed to rainwater, road salt, and moisture. If you live in a coastal or rainy city, salt is more likely to corrode the metal surface, while dust and mud accumulate in the mounting area, preventing moisture from evaporating. If the anti-corrosion coating on the shock absorber ages or gets damaged by stones, rust will spread. Over time, it may even affect the stability of the suspension system. I recommend paying special attention to cleaning this area every six months when washing your car. After rinsing off the mud with a water gun, spray some rust-proof paint for protection. If the rust is severe, take it to a repair shop immediately—don’t wait for it to spread to other chassis components and cause more expensive problems.
