Signs of a Faulty Front Shock Absorber in a Car

As a crucial component of the car suspension system, the car shock absorber absorbs the vibrations and impacts caused by uneven road surfaces during driving, thereby providing passengers with a comfortable ride. Once the shock absorber is damaged, it can greatly affect driving experience and safety.

To help drivers detect and solve problems early on, let's take a look at the symptoms of a broken front shock absorber.

Symptoms of a broken front shock absorber

The shock absorber makes abnormal noise when driving on bumpy roads

Noise: If the shock absorber makes abnormal noise when driving on bumpy roads, it is highly likely that the shock absorber is damaged.

There is oil leakage outside the front shock absorber

Leakage: If oil leakage is found on the outside of the shock absorber when inspected with a flashlight through the wheel arch, it means that the shock absorber is damaged.

The car body shakes or sways excessively when driving on bumpy roads

Loose chassis: If the car body exhibits excessive shaking or swaying when driving on bumpy roads, it is likely that the shock absorber is malfunctioning.

The outer shell of the shock absorber becomes hot after driving.

The working principle of the front shock absorber

When the car body and the axle experience relative movement due to vibrations, the piston inside the shock absorber moves up and down, and the hydraulic oil inside the shock absorber repeatedly flows from one chamber through different pores into another. Friction between the pore wall and the oil and internal friction between oil molecules generate damping force that converts the vibration energy of the car into thermal energy, which is absorbed and dissipated to the air by the shock absorber.

The vast majority of cars now use hydraulic shock absorbers which work according to a very simple principle.

The upper support of the shock absorber is integrated with the piston and piston rod, which are connected to the car body, while the lower support is integrated with the pressure cylinder and connected to the lower control arm of the car frame.

When the car undergoes synchronous movement due to vibration, the piston inside the front shock absorber moves left and right, forcing the hydraulic oil in the chamber to flow repeatedly from one chamber to another through the piston flow valve. Friction between the valve pore wall and the oil, as well as internal friction between the oil molecules generate damping force that converts the vibration energy into thermal energy and dissipates it into the atmosphere.