Broken shocks: How big is the risk when driving with damaged dampers?

By dpa | 25 March 2019


BERLIN: It goes unnoticed to many a driver, but driving with a broken shock absorber brings a surprisingly large risk, say safety experts.

That's because if these dampers, used to soften any sudden shocks to your car, are worn out, you will likely swerve far more if you make some kind of evasive manoeuvre.

The braking distance will also increase at high speeds, while the car's tyres will wear out faster, safety experts from the inspection agency Tuv say.

You also won't be able to rely on assistance systems such as anti-lock brakes or an electronic stability controls as well, as these will be impaired, according to safety inspectors.

You can often tell that your shocks are damaged if your steering wheel begins to tremble or if you have unevenly worn tyres. But you'll need an expert to assess their condition with any certainty.

Don't rely on rocking the car or doing your own manual inspection. Mechanics use a special device to check the damping characteristics of the entire chassis.

From a mileage of 80,000km, the shocks should be checked in the workshop and then repeated every 20,000km — if they are not inspected anyway during regular inspections. If replacing is needed, inspectors say you should always replace both absorbers on one axle.

Keywords