‘Worn shocks a serious safety hazard’

Worn shock absorbers seriously compromise a vehicle’s handling and safety on the road, warned the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA).

“Because shock absorbers wear out gradually, motorists often adjust unconsciously to the change in their vehicle’s handling, unaware of the danger they’re in due to the efficiency of vital components being compromised,” explained Dewald Ranft, chairman of MIWA.

“It’s essential that motorists be aware of how dangerous worn shocks can be and familiarise themselves with the signs that their vehicle’s shocks may be due for replacement,” he said.

Independent research on the extent to which worn shock absorbers impact on a vehicle’s safety shows that they compromise the driver’s ability to stop, steer and maintain vehicle stability.

“In fact, it takes 2,6m longer to stop from a speed of 80km/h on a straight road with only the driver in the vehicle, and 11,3m longer to stop when fully loaded and travelling on a straight road with an uneven surface from a speed of 70km/h.”

He added among the signs that a vehicles’s shock absorbers could be worn are steering wheel vibrations, oil leakage, irregular and increased tyre wear as well as a steering that will not centre by itself.

However, Dewald also cautioned against opting for replacing your worn shocks with cheap – and unsafe – shock absorbers.

“Independent tests have proved that certain cheap, imported shocks are extremely dangerous because they aren’t built robustly, the quality of the oil is inferior, they fail the fatigue test, lack flexibility and are often incorrectly assembled.

“Quality is vital in this critical component of a vehicle. Ensure that you have your shocks checked and fitted at a reputable MIWA service provider and accredited fitment centre and when necessary, insist on having them replaced by a trusted brand.”