1 in 5 of all cars leaving production lines worldwide is fitted with KYB shock absorbers as standard – you can rely on KYB to provide the same world class product quality for your replacement parts.
A vehicle’s suspension is made up of three components, the tyre, the spring and the shock absorber. All three components need to be in good working order to keep the tyre properly in contact with the road.
Just 1 worn shock absorber can increase a vehicle’s stopping distance at 50kph/30mph by up to 2 metres – that’s the difference between stopping safely and hitting a hazard.
KYB recommends that shock absorbers are replaced after 80,000km / 50,000 miles, always as an axle pair.
Mounting kits are the link between the body of the car and the suspension. They consist of a rubber mount to help absorb any impact from the road, as well as a bearing which allows the unit to turn as the steering wheel turns. They are constantly in use as the car drives, and will deteriorate over time just like any other rubber product. As such, they should always be replaced when the shock absorbers are replaced.
If your car has any of the following signs, you should have your mounting kits checked at a garage:
> Noise coming from the front of car when steering
> Vibration from the steering wheel
> Knocking noise when driving
A protection kit has a bump stop and a dust cover. The dust cover stops dust and dirt from damaging the shock absorber seal which would cause oil to leak out. The bump stop acts as a cushion, protecting the suspension from contact between the metal body of the shock absorber and the bottom of the Mounting Kit when it’s fully compressed. Protections kits should always be replaced when replacing the shock absorbers.
As they take a lot of impact from the road conditions, protection kits are often heavily damaged, missing, or not able to stay in the correct position. If your car has any of the following signs, you should have your mounting kits checked at a garage:
> Dust cover is falling off
> Silver piston rod is exposed
> Hear a noise when going over a big bump
Coil springs support the weight of the vehicle, and compress to absorb any bumps or jolts in the road surface. Coil springs also maintain the correct ride height of the vehicle. As such they should always be replaced in pairs.
Coil springs fatigue over time and sometimes snap. If your car shows any of the following signs, you should take it to your local garage for a check:
> My car looks lower on one side – This could indicate the metal has fatigued and the spring is sagging meaning the vehicle is not operating at the correct ride height
> My car has collapsed on one side – The most likely explanation for this is a broken coil spring
> Car is leaning to one side – again this is likely to be a broken coil spring
> The coil spring isn’t sitting properly in it’s seat
Shock absorbers push your wheels into contact with the road, allowing you to steer and brake safely. Without shock absorbers, your car would go over a bump and compress the coil springs. The springs would continue to bounce until they had expended all of the energy. The shock absorber regulates this bounce, effectively catching the bounce of the spring, and pushing it back out to its original length keeping the car stable and safely in contact with the road.
With just one worn shock absorber, a vehicle’s stopping distance at 50kph/30mph can increase by up to 2 metres… that’s the difference between stopping safely or hitting a hazard. Always have your shock absorbers replaced in pairs.
Shock absorbers wear gradually over time, so sometimes it can be difficult to tell if they need replacing. However if your car shows any of the following signs, you should take it to your local garage for a check:
> Nose dive when braking
> Car pulling to one side
> Car feels unstable when cornering
> Flat spots on tyres
> Car veers in a side wind
> Vibration on steering wheel
> Car bounces over bumps
> Car feels unstable when towing
> Oil leaking on shock absorber
KYB recommends that shock absorbers are replaced after 80,000 kilometres / 50,000 miles.
