While most drivers have heard of a Rear Fork Motorcycle shock absorber. For short they are also called "shocks" or sometimes "dampers". Very few realise what they do and also how safety critical they are. Like all moving parts on a car, a shock absorber can become worn over time. This results in it needing replacing. Knowing when to replace the shock absorber it's not always obvious. How long a shock absorber lasts depends on a huge number of variables. Make/model of car, the mileage driven, and the type of road surfaces driven on. Depending on what quality of damper you fit, 4-5 years seem to be about the average life span of the shock absorber. With that in mind, a typical car might go through 3 or 4 sets of dampers in its lifetime. It's reasonable to expect that you'll have to replace some at some point. Here's our guide to identifying issues with your shocks.
What is a Shock Absorber?

Simply put, the shock absorber controls unwanted movement of the car body. It does this by controlling the movement of the wheels. The springs themselves absorb bumps and changes in the road surfaces. While the damper then control/dampen the movement of the wheels after that. Without them the cars wheels will bounce up and down uncontrollably every time you go over a bump. This is not only uncomfortable but also dangerous! These two things combined will result in the tyres losing touch with the ground. Shock Absorber A selection of typical front and rear shock absorber designs In effect, it's the job of the shock absorber to keep the tyres in uniform contact with the road. The way they do this varies from car to car, but the principle is the same. In sportier models, the damping is 'firmer', which may feel a little less comfortable. What this means that car body movements are more rigidly controlled. . Most modern cars use telescopic shocks that feature a piston and valve arrangement within an oil-filled tube. They call them hydraulic dampers and as the wheel rises, it shortens the shock. Oil is forced within the shock through small holes in the piston. This slows and controls the movement of the wheel as the spring oscillates. Some more sophisticated Scooter Shock Absorber have an extra gas chamber within this arrangement. This allows further control and 'soften out' the movement. There are also many different types of adaptive or electronically controlled damping systems. It's possible to Alter the firmness of the damping can on the move to suit the road surface or the driver's preference.