How to change the shock absorber support?

Each car has a suspension. And one of the most important components of this suspension are shock absorbers. Thanks to their work, the trip is easy, comfortable and hassle-free. We assume that there is no need to say that the function of these important elements is to absorb vibrations and provide good grip on the wheels of the car while driving.

Shock absorbers are attached both to the chassis of the car and to the body with rubber pads that are designed to absorb vibrations while driving and reduce noise in the body.

Why do the supports need to be changed often?

As we mentioned some time ago, supports are designed for the following purposes:

• absorb vibration.
• reduce noise in the cabin.
• absorb shock while driving.

This means that they are subjected to extremely high loads. Taking into account all these factors, adding the fact that they are made of rubber, it becomes completely clear that after some time of operation they are deformed and worn out and should be replaced with new ones in a timely manner.

Signs indicating the need to replace the shock absorber pad

• Interior comfort is reduced
• Difficulty turning
• An increase in atypical noises such as scratching, knocking, etc.

What happens if the supports do not change over time?

If the symptoms that we just listed are ignored and the supports are not replaced, this will ultimately affect the following components:

• shock absorbers
• shock absorber efficiency
• negative for the entire chassis of the car

How to change the shock absorber support?

If you are interested in whether you can make the replacement yourself, we will answer you as follows ... Replacing the supports is not at all difficult, and if you have already tried to replace the shock absorbers, you will cope with the supports. If you do not have experience, then it is better not to experiment, but to look for a special service.

So how do you change the shock absorber support?

To make changes in your home garage you will need: tools (a set of wrenches and pipe wrenches, screwdrivers, liquid for cleaning nuts and bolts from dirt and corrosion, a wire brush), new supports, a jack and a car stand.

• Since the mount is located at the top of the shock absorber, the first step you need to take is to raise the car on a stand or with a jack and jack stands and remove the front wheel.
• After removing the wheel, clean with a wire brush the places where you notice that dirt has accumulated and spray cleaning fluid onto bolts and nuts.
• Using the appropriate key number, loosen the bolts and nuts that connect the shock absorber to the chassis, then lower the car a little lower, open the front cover, find the bolt that connects the shock absorber to the body, and unscrew it.
• Detection and removal of brake hoses and ABS sensors
• Carefully remove the shock absorber with the block. You will easily find the support, as it is located on top of the shock absorber.
• Now all you have to do is remove the broken and old support, clean the area well and put the new support in place.
• Advice! When removing the shock absorber, carefully inspect its condition, pay attention to the condition of the spring, anthers, bearings and other components, and if necessary, it is advisable to replace them.

Experts advise you to change the shock bearings along with the replacement of the supports, even if they look fine, but you decide for yourself - this is your personal decision.

If there is no need to replace other components after installing the support, simply install the shock absorber in the reverse order.

It is recommended that the wheels of the vehicle be adjusted after replacement. Not for anything else, but just to make sure everything is in order.

Period of support

There is no specific period during which the cushion pad must be replaced. The change depends on both your driving style and how well you take care of your car.

Our advice: when you feel that the comfort in the cab has decreased or you begin to hear louder sounds, call the service center to conduct a thorough inspection of the condition of the shock absorbers and pads to see if they need to be replaced or not.

Is it possible to replace only one support?

There are also no exact rules, and if you want, no one will stop you from replacing only one support, but you can be absolutely sure that you will do double work. Why? Usually the mileage that the supports can support is the same, which means that if one of them is crushed or torn, the other expects the same, and you will soon have to change the support again.

Therefore, experts advise changing each pair of supports in pairs (just like shock absorbers).

Can the bearings be replaced separately from the shock absorbers?

No! There are shock absorbers that are made entirely with support. If your shock absorbers are of this type, you will need to replace the entire shock absorber when you need to replace the support.

In other cases, you can replace only the support or only the shock absorber, depending on which component is worn and needs to be replaced.

Can I fix the supports?

Definitely not! These elements are made of rubber, which eliminates the possibility of repair. As soon as the support wears out, it must be replaced with a new one.

How to choose a shock absorber support?

If you do not fully know what type of support you need, contact a mechanic or a specialized auto parts store for qualified assistance. If you are sure which type of support you need, look at similar products in at least a few auto parts stores, find information about the manufacturer, and only then buy. Remember that supports are changed and sold in pairs!

What is the price of the prop?

These items are consumables, and their price is not at all high. Usually it ranges from $ 10 to $ 20. For a pair of supports.

The most common mistakes that drivers make when changing towers:

They underestimate the importance of
Many riders think that mounts are tiny rubber consumables that don't affect the performance of the shock much. So they don't pay attention to changes in driving comfort, and when they hear a knock, squeak, or rattle, they attribute those sounds to anything but worn or torn bearings. They can only come to their senses when the shock absorbers dramatically reduce their effectiveness, and problems with the suspension of the car increase.

Change only one of the supports
Replacing only one of the pillars, to put it mildly, is not a very thoughtful and completely illogical act. Why?

Well, first of all, shock absorber bearings are sold in pairs in all stores. This means that there is a good reason for such a sale.
Secondly, the price of a pair of supports is so low that you should not buy a pair and put only one support.
And thirdly, as already mentioned, the supports have the same service life, which means that when one of them wears out, the same thing happens with the other, and it's good to replace both at the same time.
When changing pads do not pay attention to shock absorbers and related components
As already mentioned, special attention should always be paid to shock absorbers and their components when replacing bearings, regardless of whether they were replaced in the near future or not. Since it is quite possible, even with a recent replacement of an element, that it is worn prematurely, and if it is not replaced, this entire procedure for replacing the support will be useless, since very soon the car will have to be repaired again to replace worn shock absorber components.

Questions and answers:

How to change shock absorbers correctly? Change only in pairs so that the damping level on one axis is approximately the same. The shock absorbers must be the same. The nuances of the installation depend on the design features of the car.

When do you need to change the front shock absorbers? It depends on the operating conditions and driving style. Shock absorbers usually last about four years or longer (depending on the weight of the car and the quality of the roads).

How often do you need to change the rear shock absorbers? Depending on road conditions and driving style, shock absorbers can lose their effectiveness after 70 thousand kilometers. But diagnostics should be carried out after 20 thousand.

Do I need to change the supports when replacing the shock absorbers? The shock absorber support also serves part of the damping function, and replacing it separately costs the same as replacing the shock absorber. The bundle is much cheaper.