HAMBURG, Germany – The latest “MEYLE Mechanics” video on the MEYLE TV YouTube channel explains how repair professionals easily can make shock-absorber testing a routine element of vehicle inspection.
The video walks repair professionals through different methods of diagnosing shock-absorber damage. In some cases, visual inspection of the tires might reveal areas of local wear – a typical symptom of shock-absorber damage.
Sometimes a test drive reveals the telltale signs. If the vehicle feels unresponsive – especially when cornering – or doesn’t go straight without steering corrections, the shocks are due for replacement. Loud clunking noises coming from the car could mean the same thing.
MEYLE’s in-house engineers recommend that repair technicians always replace shock absorbers in pairs to ensure uniformity in the damping performance between the left- and right-hand shock absorbers. Otherwise, the vehicle’s road-holding ability could be compromised.
The OEMs recommend that vehicle owners have their shock absorbers checked every 80,000 driven kilometers (approximately 50,000 miles).
Potholes, bumpy roads, heavy loads and towing are some of the scenarios that put shock absorbers under heavy strain. These scenarios, combined with environmental factors such as dirt, humidity and road salt, can reduce shock-absorber life.
Defective shocks increase stopping distance and reduce overall vehicle stability. It these symptoms occur, immediate shock-absorber replacement is an absolute must, according to MEYLE.
