Does your car have poor stability when cornering? Bouncing excessively after hitting a pothole? Are the tires on one side much more worn than those on the other? So, the time has come to change the shock absorbers of the car.
Shock absorbers have been a fundamental part of car manufacturing since the 1950s, as they absorb shock. They are essential elements in the suspension of the car, in any of its forms or models of circulation, since they allow the bearings to adhere conveniently to the pavement.
It is important to know the differences between suspension and damping. The first is a complex structure made of several components such as springs, wheels, bearings and among which are shock absorbers. This system gives stability to the vehicle ensuring grip and braking.
Shock absorbers are considered one of the three main pillars of safety at the wheel together with brakes and tires, so it is essential to keep them in perfect condition and thus guarantee the safety of your vehicle on the road and the prevention of traffic accidents . Shock absorbers in poor condition are a serious danger to safe driving because they decrease comfort in the car, make it difficult to drive the vehicle on the road and increase stopping distance.
Here we explain how you should change the shock absorbers of your car to save money and to always keep it in perfect condition.
Step 1. Locate the shock absorber
Open the hood and find the shock absorber bolts on each side of the car, close to the windshield. In the center of this ring of screws is the shock absorber itself. They are usually in the shape of a metallic cone with a wrap around it.
Step 2. Remove the wheel
Loosen the bolts that secure the wheel with a wrench and raise the car with a mechanical jack. Jacks use hydraulic force that can be lost suddenly and they need to be secured with supports to get the job done safely. Once you've raised the car, place a hydraulic jack underneath to give it stability. Remove the bolts that secure the wheel and remove it.
Step 3. Remove brake lines and stabilizer bar
Unscrew the hitch with the appropriate screwdriver and move the brake lines to be able to remove the shock absorber. To remove the stabilizer bar, remove the hook that fixes it with a wrench.
Step 4. Remove the shock absorber
You need to remove the steering bolts first. There are usually two or three long bolts that hold the shock absorber to the steering. Remove them by removing the mounting base nuts and loosening the damper. Second, open the hood and find the shock towers to remove the bolts. They are usually found in the middle of the fender, they look like cylinders and are usually held in place by three screws.
Remove these screws. Try to use a spring loaded shock compressor for this process. Next, you should pull the shock but do not unscrew the center screw at the top of the shock tray until you have compressed the springs (this method is used to save money by "saving" the old springs and mounting the new shock). If you have a shock mount base, you can throw away the old shock and move on to mounting the new one.
Step 5. Assemble the new shock absorber
Assemble the new mounting base in the direction by repositioning the screws, securely fastened but allowing the mount to move freely. If you removed the stabilizer bar or brake line bracket, reattach them now. Tighten the bolts with a wrench, fixing the mounting base to the steering. Then install the wheel following the manufacturer's instructions, as well as the bolts on the shock tower.
Step 6. Check that everything is correctly positioned
Take a test drive to safely evaluate the car. The car may need some adjustments, so avoid driving at high speed or in high traffic areas.
All the complexity that the task of replacing the shock absorbers of a car can have has been reduced to its minimum expression!
