Shock Absorber and Strut Assembly – For a Smooth Ride

Without a doubt, the shock absorber and strut assembly in your car will affect the quality of your drive the greatest. Your car is basically a moving machine that goes over long distances. Have you ever wondered why your car is able to maintain stability while you drive into crosswinds? Or maybe how your car goes over a bump that’s huge but only jiggles and wiggles a little? It’s all thanks to the shock absorber and the struts in the car. However, most people don’t know the difference between shock absorbers and struts. Fact is, they’re very different.

Automobile Shock Absorbers

A shock absorber does what its name suggests; to absorb shocks that occur due to driving on rough terrains or roads. An important part of any suspension system, these absorbers work by absorbing energy and then dissipating them to give you that smooth ride. There are a few types of shock absorbers. However, the general idea is to design it in a way that the energy absorbed is converted into heat before being dissipated or in certain cases, kept and utilized. For example, hydraulic and air cylinder based shock absorbers work by taking in energy and dissipating them by heating up the hydraulic fluid or air within. After which the energy will be transferred to the atmosphere as heat.

Automobile Struts

Like a shock absorber, struts absorb energy and dampen it in order to make your ride on the car as smooth as possible. However, though struts share the same characteristics as shock absorbers, they work differently. Struts do not only absorb energy, they provide structural support to ensure that the passengers are able to enjoy a ride without constant, uncomfortable movements. In laymen terms, this means that struts provide structural support unlike shock absorbers which only affect the speed of which the weight and energy is transferred.

Shock absorber and strut assembly plays an important part in your car. By absorbing energy and providing a dampening effect, what you get is a smooth ride even though you are on rough terrain. This is why you should make sure that the absorbers and struts on your cars are well maintained. This way they can do their job; shocks absorb energy, dissipates it and keeps your tires on the ground and struts provide structural support on top of that. If you hear squeaking sounds while driving, or the nose of your car takes a dive when you hit the brakes then you might want to check the struts and absorbers on your car. Make sure they are well maintained and if they’re not, head over to a nearby mechanic that’s familiar with shock absorber and strut assembly to fix it up for you.