Struts and Strut Inserts
Car and truck shock absorbers usually fall into two types: gas-charged and conventional oil and are of a MacPherson-strut design. The passing of oil through one or more orifices damps the movement of a piston within a shock cylinder. In gas-charged shocks, pressurized nitrogen inside the shock absorber helps prevent the formation of tiny air bubbles that will reduce the effectiveness of the damping oil.
The objective of the shock absorber is to manage the up and down movement of the wheel and tire. Contrary to what your mechanic told you, shocks do not last for the life of the vehicle. The easiest way to check if your shocks are bad is to look at your shocks.
If you see any oil seeping, either on the outer tube or on the piston rod, then youre in the market for a set of new replacement shocks. The other way to check your shock absorbers is to stand at one corner of the vehicle and rapidly push down on it and let it go to compress and release the spring. The vehicle should come right back to position and not jounce up and down.
If it is time to change your shocks, should you go for OE (original equipment) or performance shocks like Bilstein or Eibach? We recommend taking the opportunity to upgrade with quality replacements from the likes of Eibach Dampers, Koni, Bilstein, or Tokico. If your goal is the best car control and handing, the performance shock is unbeatable. Now if you want that comfort soft factory ride, we recommend replacing your shocks with original equipment shocks like Boge, KYB, Sachs and genuine.
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