A shock absorber, which is a type of oil pump, is a device that distributes kinetic energy to diffuse the abrupt and rough push or shake. Shock absorbers support landing gear and motorcycle suspensions. A shock absorber is usually a cylinder with a sliding piston cushioned by air or hydraulic fluid.
In the early 1900s, cars used to be suspended by carriage springs. This was a typical spring type commonly used in wheeled vehicle suspension. Initial vehicle manufacturers had to overcome early challenges with suspension designs to improve driver control and passenger comfort. The earlier suspension designs used steering spindles or kingpins to attach the front wheels to the axle. This allowed the wheels to pivot while the axle remained static. The leaf spring oscillation was dampened by a device called a “shock absorber” other than those. Initially, shock absorbers comprised two arms attached by a bolt and a friction disc between them. They needed to be more durable. The resistance could be adjusted by loosening or tightening the bolt, and the performance was not very good.
Over the 20th CenturyCentury, shock absorbers underwent a vast development in terms of technology and concept. The automobile industry has evolved and changed over the last century. This led to the need for new shock absorbers. The 21st CenturyCentury saw the introduction of more advanced concepts and designs for automobile shock absorbers.
Several shock absorber models have been available in the market in the past few years. Adjustable and nonadjustable dampers are of two designs: twin-tube or monotube. The industry has also focused on customizing the product to fit the vehicle they will be installing it with.
- A basic Twin Tube Design comprises an inner tube, a working tube or pressure tube, and an outer tube called a reserve tube—the outer tube stores excess hydraulic fluid.
- Twin Tube-Gas Charged Design is an essential advancement in ride vehicle technology. It also solves many ride control issues due to the increasing use of unibody constructions, shorter wheelbases, and higher tire pressures. Twin tube – Gas Charged Design is currently adapted as original equipment in many domestic passenger cars, SUVs, and light truck applications
- Twin Tube PSD Design, or Position-Sensitive Damped Design, is an advanced technology that considers the position of valves within the pressure tube. This technology eliminates the compromise between soft and firm valves. The twin tube-PSD design allows shock absorbers to adjust more quickly to changes in road and weight conditions.
- Twin Tube-ASD Design, or Acceleration Sensory Damping Design, is a solution to ride engineers’ compromises to combine comfort and control into one shock absorber. This technology goes beyond traditional velocity-sensitive damping and focuses on impact. This technology has intelligence, as the compression valve senses a bump on the road and adjusts the shock automatically to absorb it.
- Monotube Design is high-pressure gas shocks with only one tube, the pressure tube. It does not include a base valve. Monotube shocks can be mounted either upside down or upright, and they will reduce the unsprung mass in both cases. Monotube shocks, together with springs, are an essential component in supporting the vehicle’s weight.
The 2012 Cadillac Escalade was equipped with shock absorbers that reduce the impact of bumps and provide a smoother ride. Monroe SensaTrac Shock Absorber 5788 is used for the 04-06 Cadillac CTS, and Monroe SensaTrac Shock Absorber 5787 is used for the 03-03 Cadillac CTS. Monroe Sensa Trac shocks, struts, and other ride control products have been recognized as the best for drivers looking for ultimate comfort.
Shock absorbers for the 21st CenturyCentury
The 21st CenturyCentury has seen a lot of innovation in shock absorbers. Shock absorbers are structurally friendly and can be changed, adjusted, or replaced by the car owner.
Performance Shock Absorbers come in both single- and dual-adjustable versions. The double-adjustable dampers allow you to adjust the bump separately from the rebound. Single-adjustable will enable you to adjust the rebound of the shock. Single-adjustable shocks are more costly than traditional shocks or shocks that do not change. They’re also less expensive when compared to double adjustable. Koni, Competition Engineering Tokico, and QA1 are a few single-adjustable shocks.
Specialty Shockspurpose started in drag racing because the situation often requires much softer shocks than the stock ones. Stock shocks that are not adjustable do an excellent job of replacing worn-out original shocks, but they often need to catch up in high-performance applications.
The rear shocks also play a role in the traction equation. They also provide a longer extension that prevents the shock from bottoming out when the tires are planted, particularly with suspensions with excessive anti-squat, when the tire is separated from the body during launch.
The market has become so dynamic that every car model now has different requirements for shock absorbers. The demand for custom auto shock absorbers is increasing dramatically. This is reflected in the product titles, and a few models of adjustable auto shock absorbers are used in automobiles, such as AD Series – Adjustable Shock Absorbers; Auto and Truck Adjustable Shock Absorber For Isuzu; Front Shock Absorber, Volkswagen Golf III; Front-Right Shock Absorber, BMW3.
