Shock absorbers wear gradually, so the change in how the car rides is easy to miss. Worn dampers do more than reduce comfort: they increase stopping distances and reduce grip in emergency manoeuvres.
Signs your shock absorbers are worn
- The car keeps bouncing after a speed bump.
- The nose dives sharply when braking, or the rear squats when accelerating.
- More body roll in corners or on roundabouts.
- The car feels unsettled in crosswinds or on uneven highway surfaces.
- Cupped (scalloped) tyre wear.
- Oil leaking down the outside of the shock absorber body.
The bounce test
Pushing down hard on one corner of the car and releasing it is a rough guide only: a healthy damper settles almost immediately. Modern dampers can fail the road test while passing this one, so a proper inspection is more reliable.
Replacement
Replace dampers in axle pairs, check the top mounts and bump stops at the same time, and have the alignment checked afterwards. See suspension services.