Common car maintenance mistake: Ignoring worn shock absorbers
One in four South African vehicles have worn shock absorbers, putting drivers and passengers at serious risk. Learn how this hidden issue affects safety, handling, and maintenance costs.
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A large number of South African motorists may unknowingly be driving vehicles with worn shock absorbers, putting themselves and others at risk. According to automotive safety experts, one in four vehicles on the road have worn shocks, a safety-critical component that many drivers overlook.
Shock absorbers, or dampers, are responsible for controlling excessive spring movement and keeping a car's tyres in contact with the road. This ensures vehicle stability, proper braking, and steering control. Without functioning shocks, road-holding is compromised and the vehicle becomes harder to control, especially at higher speeds or during sudden manoeuvres.
Because shocks wear down gradually, drivers often don’t notice the decline in performance. Instead, they adjust their driving style over time, unknowingly compensating for the loss in stability. This slow wear, combined with the fact that shocks are not easily visible, means they are rarely replaced when necessary.
Failing to replace worn shocks can lead to a range of safety and financial issues, especially in high-mileage vehicles. These include:
The Dangers of Worn Shocks:
Poor Road Holding: Worn shocks fail to keep tyres in contact with the road, making the car harder to control.
Worn Tyres: Tyres bounce on the road, creating flat spots and reducing tyre life to as little as 25,000km.
Reduced Braking Efficiency: Worn shocks increase stopping distance by up to 2.6 metres at 80km/h in dry conditions. This is worsened in vehicles with ABS systems.
Aquaplaning Risk: Even with good tyres, worn shocks can cause loss of control on wet roads due to reduced traction.
Component Damage: Excessive suspension movement leads to accelerated wear on tie-rod ends, ball joints, and mountings.
Headlight Dazzle: Vehicle bounce caused by worn shocks can misalign headlights, blinding oncoming traffic.
Driver Fatigue: Drivers must concentrate more to keep control, leading to faster fatigue, especially on long journeys.
Experts recommend regular inspection of shock absorbers, especially for vehicles with high mileage. Failure to replace them not only increases risk on the road but also leads to higher long-term maintenance costs.
Motorists are urged to check their vehicle’s shocks and ensure replacements are done by qualified professionals.