Do you want to buy brand-name shock absorbers such as Bilstein shock absorbers, SACHS shock absorbers or Monroe shock absorbers for your vehicle and get first-class quality? Then the Q-Parts24 Car Parts Shop is the right place for you. Choose from over 5,700 shock absorber items and convince yourself of perfect brand quality, which is also used by some manufacturers in racing. We offer shock absorbers for all common vehicle models from VW, Audi, Mercedes, BMW and other car brands. New shock absorbers offer your vehicle perfect performance and dynamics for the chassis again, with optimum road grip and cornering - no matter what challenges the track has in store for your car.
Get the right shock absorbers for front or rear axles of all types from our range, at an attractive price, without having to fear any loss in the quality of the parts. You can quickly find out which shock absorbers are suitable for your car using our search mask with just a few entries. Q-Parts24 will also be happy to help you personally find the right shock absorbers, which you can then order at a favourable price. Discover our shock absorber product range and take advantage of our offers to buy shock absorbers today.
Shock absorbers have contributed significantly to ride comfort since the beginning of modern vehicle construction. Due to the spring suspension of the body and the interior on the chassis of the vehicle, not all shocks and impacts of the ground are passed on to the passenger compartment. The shock absorbers fitted at the front and rear thus provide a much more comfortable and smoother ride. The wear and tear or complete failure of these vehicle parts can therefore quickly be felt in the passenger compartment and suggests the purchase of suitable shock absorber replacement parts for the suspension and damping. These are mainly dampers and suspension struts. More precisely, the entire damping part is called a strut, which consists of a spring, wheel carrier and shock absorber. Without a spring, one would only speak of a shock strut where screws or torsion bars replace the springs, e.g. in the wishbone.
The middle section of a shock absorber consists of the familiar shock absorber, which in turn is stabilised by two spring plates. These are attached once to the cylinder and once to the piston rod end of a damper. Modern shock absorbers also have an MCU spring made of microcellular polyurethane. This makes for an even more sensitive suspension, which prevents potholes and bumps from being transmitted too hard from the road to the body. It prevents the transmission from rocking, as the shock absorbers prevent any resulting vibration. Steering also becomes easier, safer and additional driving comfort is created. In addition, the better the suspension, the less wear and tear there is on the body and in almost all other areas of the car.
Shock absorbers have undergone further technical development over the decades; today, the McPherson strut is primarily used in passenger cars. The multi-part automotive component is based on a suspension with two spring plates, supplemented by a further spring. The shock absorber and the wheel suspension are also part of the strut itself. The strut only achieves its desired effect when the springs and shock absorber interact. In the event of suspension malfunctions, it is advisable to immediately retrofit the appropriate spare parts to ensure safe handling. In our shop, you will find gas-pressure and oil-pressure shock absorbers.
Shock absorbers and springs fulfil two basic functions in modern vehicle construction. One is to compensate for damage in the road surface and other obstacles. Without the spring-mounted passenger cell, any unevenness in the ground would be passed on directly to the passengers, which reduces the driving experience in very poor road conditions and can even become a safety risk. Worn or defective shock absorbers or suspension struts worsen the road holding enormously, which is especially noticeable in curves or on unpaved or uneven roads. In the worst case, a loss of control can result in an accident.
But even when driving on a straight road with a good surface, the suspension struts of a vehicle fulfil an important task. Depending on the speed and external conditions, oscillation can occur in the movement, which builds up. This would cause the journey to be accompanied by increasingly strong, perceived undulations for the passengers. Intact dampers and springs counteract this movement in the chassis, resulting in a smooth and even ride.
Shock absorbers and springs can wear out and, as car parts, have to defend themselves against a variety of external influences.
If slow wear or clogging of the car parts occurs, the following problems are typical and important signs for a necessary replacement of the suspension strut and shock absorbers:
- Shock absorbers are leaking
- Poor resistance in the shock absorber during tension / compression.
- The piston rod moves freely in the shock absorber at the beginning during tension or compression
Most often, the driving experience shows that there are problems with a shock absorber or springs. Anyone who drives their car on a daily basis will quickly notice that driving their own vehicle feels more uncomfortable and that a bump, knocks and undulations affect the driving experience.
Normally, the operation or function of a shock absorber is as follows: it is a closed tube which is filled with oil and in which a piston moves up and down on a piston rod. As it does so, the oil passes through channels and valves, creating friction that converts motion into heat energy. This dampens the vibrations from the chassis that occur on uneven roads or when driving through potholes, for example. There are also gas pressure shock absorbers where movement causes the contained gas to be compressed or decompressed, creating a spring effect in addition to damping. This is not the case with a classic oil pressure shock absorber. Because of the important functions of the shock absorber, the signs that indicate a defect are very characteristic.
The most common signs / symptoms of defective shock absorbers include:
- Tyres wear quickly, prematurely and on one side / uneven (cross tyres and look at them from the outside).
- Prolongation of the typical braking distance
- Comfort in the passenger cabin is reduced
- Steering wheel knocks out
- Bumpy noises when cornering
- Bouncing on uneven surfaces
Most symptoms are caused by wear and tear. However, if oil leaks from the piston, the shock absorber must be replaced immediately, otherwise there is a risk of accidents and body damage, as well as damage to the transmission.
Typical causes of problems with the shock absorber
The suspension is subject to a constant load when driving and is subject to slow wear over the years. The spring effect gradually diminishes and can no longer optimally compensate for the movements acting on the vehicle. Other causes of problems with shock absorbers and springs are:
- Bushings and oil seals show leakage
- excessive abrasion on the shock absorbers
- creeping rusting through of the metallic components
- Lack of nitrogen in the pneumatic system
- Shock absorber fluid contaminated by mechanical impurities
- Clogged or damaged valves
- Piston and cylinder wear
- Deformed feedback valve disc
- Reduced fluid level in shock absorber (leak)
- Loose nuts
Genuine wear of the material can often be detected simply by visual inspection. If the ride comfort suffers and the shock absorber leaves a good visual impression, it is worthwhile to check the pneumatics when visiting a specialist workshop.
- Replace seals if fluid level drops or steering is detected.
- Replace corroded or bent piston rods.
- Fill shock absorber with nitrogen
- Top up fluid
- Repair / restore rods with splash or polymer
A complete replacement of the shock absorbers is normally done every three to four years. If you drive rather fast and sporty, under hard conditions or special environmental stresses, the dampers must be replaced every 40,000 to 50,000 kilometres.
If the shock absorbers are worn or damaged, it is advisable to have the shock absorber replacement parts replaced by a workshop. Technically experienced drivers can replace the shock absorbers themselves, but this requires a great deal of effort. To reach the shock absorber, for example, the entire wheel, the brake hoses and the brake caliper of the corresponding wheel must be dismantled. In newer cars, the automotive spring compressor must also be used to keep the strut under tension, otherwise the shock absorber cannot be removed. Self-locking cotter pins or nuts are often needed for reassembly.
A check of the suspension is always recommended after 15,000 to 20,000 kilometres, or even earlier if the driving style is dynamic. The replacement of the suspension struts is recommended by most manufacturers after 150,000 kilometres, but here the respective make and the condition of the vehicle play a significant role. In addition, the replacement of the affected car parts is always recommended in pairs along one axle. Otherwise, a new and an old shock absorber could quickly lead to an uneven driving behaviour due to different spring effects. Generally, in the case of classic wear and tear, it makes sense to replace the entire shock absorber and not just individual car parts such as springs or the damper.
The typical diagnosis of a defect in the shock absorbers is made by checking the tyres (uneven wear or spots) and the rocking of the vehicle from front to rear. If the rocking stops, a maximum of one more so-called pendulum swing is allowed to compensate after the load has been removed, i.e. the rocking has stopped. If the car rocks more than once, the shock absorbers are defective. As is so often the case, it is best to trust an expert garage that can take measurements for a more accurate assessment.
Whether shock absorber, spring or the entire suspension strut - we at Q-Parts24 assure you suitable car parts in a first-class quality. In our shop you will find branded goods from well-known manufacturers. Use our search mask to find the ideal shock absorber spare parts and buy them online at a low price.
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