What are Shock Absorbers?
The oil-filled tubes that stop your car bouncing after every bump.
Simplified animation — not to scale.
In plain English
Shock absorbers (or "dampers") sit alongside each suspension spring. While the spring soaks up a bump, the shock absorber controls how fast it bounces back — keeping the tyre planted on the road instead of pogo-ing into the air.
"Like the closer on a fire door — the spring would slam it shut, but the damper makes it close smoothly."
How it works
Inside each shock is a piston moving through hydraulic oil. Tiny valves restrict the oil's flow, converting bounce energy into heat. Worn shocks let the spring oscillate freely — extending stopping distances, ruining handling and chewing up your tyres.
Signs of trouble
- ⚠Car bounces more than twice when you push a corner down
- ⚠Nose-dive under braking or sway through corners
- ⚠Uneven, cupped or scalloped tyre wear
- ⚠Oily film leaking down the side of the shock
- ⚠Knocking over speed bumps
£150–£400 fitted per axle (replace in pairs)
Always get a written quote. Prices vary by car, region, and parts brand.