VARIATIONS
- Conventional shock absorbers use fluid on both sides of a piston to control rebound (extension) and compression (contraction). The main drawback is that the hydraulic fluid inside can foam if it is forced to move faster than the passages allow, i.e., the shock absorber is subjected to rapid rebound and compression. The foaming fluid reduces the shock's dampening abilities, since the air bubbles absorb some piston movement.
- Gas-filled shocks eliminate foaming since there are no passages through which the hydraulic fluid flows. The fluid simply pushes against a dividing piston that compresses a nitrogen gas filled chamber. The gas is at 800 psi pressure with the shock at rest.
- MacPherson struts act as a combination coil spring, shock absorber and wheel spindle. Modified MacPherson struts use a strut which does not contain a coil spring; the coil spring is located outside the strut.
SYSTEMS
SHOCK ABSORBERS & STRUTS
CORRECT OPERATION
SAFETY TIPS