Shock absorber how to check for performance?

Regardless of which type of suspension is installed, shock absorbers are always used in the car. These are damping devices designed to damp vibrations during the operation of the suspension. The principle of operation of devices is to convert energy from mechanical to thermal energy. Distinguish between gas-filled and oil shock absorbers. Elements work with suspension components such as springs, springs, cushions and torsion shafts. However, like any other detail, the suspension mechanisms fail. The shock absorber is not an exception. How to test it for performance? The answer to this question you will learn from our today's article.

Why is it important to monitor their condition?

The resource of this mechanism is about 60 thousand kilometers. In many respects this figure depends on the condition of the road surface. The shock absorber does not always take care of this set time. At any time it can fail. Therefore, it is necessary to be guided not by regulations, but by the state of these damping devices. Why is it important to monitor their condition? A defective shock absorber can lead to imbalance of the wheel. As a result, tire wear will be uneven. The car will be recorded at speed. Also, a defective shock absorber reduces the service life of the wheel bearings. They are quite expensive. And after all on many cars the given assembly goes in gathering with a nave. Therefore, the repair price can be up to 20 thousand rubles. But that is not all. The failed shock absorber (how to test it, we will tell below) increases the braking distance of the car. This negatively affects the safety of traffic. And of course, driving comfort is deteriorating. After all, the broken shock absorber is no longer able to soften the blows. All of them are directly transferred to the body and suspension parts, which also reduces their life. That's why it's so important to have a working shock absorber. How do I check this item? The methods can be different. Consider the most popular of them.

Visual inspection

How to check the shock absorber for operation without removing it from the car? The cheapest and most practical way is visual inspection of the element. There are shock absorbers next to the springs (sometimes they are assembled with them, as on the suspension of the macpherson), behind the wheel. Look at their condition. There should be no oil marks and stains on the flasks. If so, then the shock absorber is broken. Inspect the status of the rods (checked in the wheel suspended state). It is better to do it on the lift. In the absence of such, we jack up the necessary side of the car and we apply an anther. The stock should shine. The presence of rust on it indicates a malfunction of the element. The defective shock absorber can also be said by the tire itself. Inspect the condition of the tread. Wear should be uniform. What are the disadvantages of this method of diagnosis? This can only be determined in half the cases. After all, the incorrect operation of the shock absorber is caused by the wear of its internal components. And they can not be visually inspected. Externally, we can see only the effect of the problem - oil streaks (which, by the way, do not always appear) and a tread protector.

We check the damping properties

This method consists in checking the operability of the shock absorbers in a quiet state. So, the car is put on a level platform. Then one of its parts is vigorously swinging and checking, through what period the body will stop swinging. Such a method is used on passenger cars. Allowed 1-2 clocks of swing. If the machine continues to "play", then the shock absorber is defective.

The disadvantage of this method is that in this way it is possible to check only the "deceased" shock absorber. However, this is one of the fastest and cheapest (if not free) diagnostic methods. Another point - not always the shock absorber "walks". Sometimes the stock simply sticks. In this case, you will not be able to swing the car.

Determine the malfunction on the fly

This is one of the most accurate ways that lets you know if the shock absorber is working. How to check his condition? It is necessary to carefully monitor the nature of the behavior of the car. If the machine is constantly "looking for a road," reluctant to react to the steering wheel and swings on the slightest irregularities, it means that the damping elements have become worthless. On large pits, characteristic deaf strokes will be heard. But they do not always arise because of a broken piston. Probably, the silentblock worn, which holds the shock absorber in the upper or lower part. During the diagnosis, check the behavior of the car when cornering. The machine should not be strongly heeling. If one or more of the above signs is observed, then the shock absorber has become unusable.

Verification with removal

To know exactly which of the four shock absorbers is defective, dismantling will help. The extracted element is installed vertically with respect to the ground. How to check the rear shock absorbers? The lower bracket is fixed with legs. Hand over the top rod and pull it, then press down. A good shock absorber has a good resistance force. If the rod is moved by the force of one hand and not in tension, then the element is defective. There is not enough working fluid in it, or there is air inside (it does not touch gas-filled elements). How to check the front shock absorbers and racks? Diagnosis is done in the same way. These elements are arranged equally, so if the rod moves freely, such a mechanism must be replaced.

Vibrating table

It is not always possible to determine the failure without removing the element. However, there is a method that allows you to find out the malfunction on a professional level. How to check the shock absorber struts without dismantling them? To do this, the car is driven to the shake table. The cost of the service is from 1 thousand rubles. In this case, not only the shock absorbers, but also the other suspension components, as well as the braking system are checked. The vibrating table simulates road irregularities, allowing to accurately determine the malfunction of one or another mechanism. Check and lateral rolling the car (so you can find out the serviceability of the hub bearings and balls).
The stand is equipped with numerous sensors that transmit information to the computer every second.

What are the benefits?

Plus checks in this way - high accuracy of fault determination in a short period of time. Moreover, owners of trucks can not do without such a service. After all, to shake such a machine with your hands (as in the second method) is unlikely to succeed. The shaker allows you to identify the problem in a complex. The only downside is the low prevalence of such stands around the city. And not always the price is acceptable.

So, we found out how to test the shock absorber for service in various ways.