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Welcome to the ZF Education Center. In this video, we will share with you when and why
to inspect or replace a vehicles shock or struts, and the benefits of doing so. The
vehicle manufacturers have optimized the designs of their cars and trucks to handle most any
road condition while providing a comfortable ride, although safety is always a primary
concern. Shocks and struts wear over time, regular checks and the replacement of them
to restore a vehicles safety system to the original specifications may be necessary.
A properly functioning shock or strut will control the cars handling, keep the tire in
contact with the road and have a comfortable noise free ride. If you experience unsafe
handling behaviors, noises or tire issues, it is suggested to inspect and or replace
your ride control components. When replacing shocks or struts, it is recommended that they
be replaced in pairs. Now lets go over some of the key symptoms that you may be experiencing
on your vehicle that would require the inspection and recommended replacement of your shocks
or struts. If you hear any noises such as popping, clunking or creaking when going over
bumps braking or turning, this is a good indication that your upper strut mount, bearing plate
or bearings are worn. The reason you may be experiencing these noises are because your
components are not performing to their intended design, which is to promote smooth steering
and reduce noises and vibrations. You may also be experiencing noises for other reasons.
Clunking sounds can be related to not only the strut mounts or bearings as previously
stated, but also because your shocks or struts are worn or bottoming out. When the shock
or strut has lost its gas pressure or have leaked out oil, the safety and performance
features of your shocks and struts have been compromised. The clunking sound may also be
the cause of a deteriorated bump stop. When this occurs, it is highly suggested that the
related components be replaced along with the shocks or struts. When you are driving
and either brake suddenly experiencing nose dive or tire hopping or accelerate quickly
and experience rear squat, these are all good indications that the safety and performance
functions of the shocks have deteriorated. The reason it would be recommended to replace
them is because a shock or strut must be able to respond quickly when braking or accelerating
in order to keep control of the tires to the road surface. If your car has over 50,000
miles on the original shocks or struts, you may want to consider the purchase of new shocks
or struts. After 50,000 miles, shocks or struts may show signs of wear, performance functions
have deteriorated and the overall driving experience is not as controlled and smooth
as the vehicle once was. If you notice excess wear on the tires or cupping of the tires,
it may be suggested to replace the shocks or struts. Tire wear and cupping, which are
high points and low points on the tire, have occurred because of lost performance of the
shocks or struts or the vehicles alignment being out of specifications. By having the
shocks or struts checked for loss of performance or alignment issues, it can help to extend
tire life. If you notice any puddles of oil on your garage floor or driveway near the
wheels that is a very good indication that you have a worn or blown shock or strut. It
is suggested that a new pair of shocks be installed so that you are driving safely and
to the manufacturers intended expectations. When replacing shocks or struts, it is also
recommended to inspect the bump stops and dust boots. If these items show signs of wear
such as tears, cracks or deterioration of rubber, one should change these out as they
are an integral part of a shock or struts lifecycle. The replacement of Sachs shocks
or struts rates a 3 on the Qualification scale. To determine the proper part number, you should
know the vehicles Make, Model and Year. Other useful information would be if you have a
special suspension package options such as, a sport suspension, touring suspension or
Nivomat. Your automotive part store will have a Sachs Catalog listing the replacement part
numbers based on the Vehicles Make, Model and year. They may also have interchanges
to the Original Equipment number for verification. Sachs shock absorbers or struts are designed
to meet or surpass your original equipment manufacturers specifications so you can be
assured that the safety, quality, performance and comfort of your vehicle was taken into
consideration when Sachs manufactured them for your application in the aftermarket. In
conclusion, when changing to your new Sachs shocks, struts and related components such
as strut mounts, bearings, bump stops and dust boots with new, you should benefit from,
like new driving characteristics and improved handling. Better braking and vehicle control.
Reduced noises and vibrations. Improve and extend tire tread life. Reduced opportunities
for corrosion and piston seal wear from outside factors such as salt, sand, gravel and water
when replacing your dust boot. Thank you for taking the time to view this informational
video. Our intentions are to help educate you on the reasons for inspecting and changing
ride control components. Please feel free to refer to the Sachs website for further
information at www. zf.com/na