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WHAT’S THE LIFESPAN OF A VW GOLF SHOCK ABSORBER?
When most people think of the most important parts of their car, they are likely to talk about the engine and its capabilities. However, VW Golf shock absorbers provide vitally important functions in terms of both handling and ride comfort.
VW Golf Shock Absorbers
It is when you experience bad shocks that you realise just how important they are. Many drivers do not realise their importance and the huge difference they make, continuing to use the OE shocks that came with their vehicle.
Europerformance has a massive range of VW Golf shock absorbers from the best manufacturers in the world, designed to suit any driving style or need.
Superior Materials Means Superior Performance
As was said above, shocks serve two key purposes: handling and comfort. The levels of handling and comfort depend on a few different factors.
Performance shock absorbers, such as Bilstein B8 Shocks use shortened piston rods to reduce travel and provide much greater ‘feel’ for the road. This means a much more responsive, tight ride that comes straight from Bilstein’s involvement with racing teams.
Other performance shocks offer adjustability, such as front adjustable shocks absorbers by AVO. As the name suggests, this enables you to tinker with shocks until you find a setting that suits your driving style. This could be firm and very sporty, or you might prefer a looser, more laid back feel. Neither of these features comes with OE shocks.
Another important difference between OE and replacement performance shocks is the materials used in their construction. Many OE shocks, whilst perfectly useable, will not use the superior materials and construction techniques of performance shocks. SPAX Front Shock Absorbers, for example, are krypton gas filled, giving them superior damping. Along these lines, shock absorbers such as Eibach Pro Dampers use aircraft grade steel, giving them strength and durability far beyond any OE shocks.
How Long Will They Last?
The consensus for shock absorber life span is around 50,000 miles. The lifespan of your shocks depends on what they have to deal with and how good quality they are.
The rougher the ride that your shocks have to deal with, the lesser their lifespan. Unless you use a superior shock absorber that is. A shock designed for great responsiveness and dealing with hard graft, such as Koni Yellow Sports Shocks, can handle harsh conditions and sporty driving styles much better than any OE shock ever could.
As shocks wear down, their responsiveness and handling capabilities decline, leading to a squishy, unpleasant drive – many OE shocks feel like this from the start. With performance shocks, the ride remains crisp and sporty and, with adjustable shocks, you can mix and match your shock characteristics as you need to.
As many shocks age, they reveal their problems with either oil leakage or worrying new noises. These failures in shock integrity also translate to other problems, like:
- Nose dive – excessive dipping of the nose during braking
- Increased ‘bounciness’ when you hit a speed bump or dip in the road
- A bone-rattling, harsh ride
- Oil leakage or oil bubbles emerging from the shock
- Uneven wear to the tires
- Body roll – the car wants to pull away from the inside track when cornering
Any of these problems points to a deteriorating shock absorber. An OE shock, especially for a driver who likes a sporty drive, could soon show these problems. Not to mention the inferior handling and ride that is present from the start.
Performance shock absorbers are designed to withstand the harshest driving environments and styles without breaking down. What’s more, they offer superior handling and cornering, letting your car reveal its true potential.