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Dampers are automotive suspension components responsible for absorbing shocks and stabilizing your ride.

Your car's suspension system is a critical yet often overlooked part of the vehicle. It is built of many pieces that support the car's weight, improve handling, and maintain a comfortable and stable ride. Dampers are a fundamental part of the suspension system and are responsible primarily for the absorption of shock and the reduction of bounciness.

You're in the right place if you're looking for more information about car dampers. Today, we'll cover everything you need to know about this hidden yet vital vehicle suspension component.

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What are dampers and shock absorbers?

Dampers—also known as shock absorbers or suspension dampers—are automotive suspension components that reduce the severity of shocks, prevent body roll, and help the vehicle maintain stability. They're composed of hollow tubes filled with oil and a piston that moves through the oil to create a damping force. Dampers work in tandem with the springs—another important suspension component—to improve ride comfort.

While your car's leaf or coil springs support the vehicle's weight, dampers control the spring movement by providing resistance that slows down the spring oscillations. Some dampers—like struts—are built into the spring, while others are simply located near the springs. Without the damping effect of the shock absorbers, the springs' kinetic energy would cause the car to bounce until the energy slowly dissipates.

Without the shock absorbers' damping force, your car's ride quality would be highly uncomfortable and potentially dangerous at high speeds. Dampers also contribute to increased handling by helping the tires maintain contact with the road, especially when cornering.

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How do dampers work?

The hollow tubes that form the outer shell of dampers are filled with oil and gas. As the piston moves through the tube, the oil is displaced and forced through a shim stack on the piston's face.

The gas—usually nitrogen—is located in a separate chamber below the piston. As the oil is metered through the piston to the opposite end of the tube, the gas is compressed to account for the displaced oil.

The piston's movement—and the oil flow through its shims—creates the damping force necessary to slow down the springs' bouncing.

Most modern cars use dampers with some variation of this design. Let's look at the most common types of damper designs found in today's vehicles.

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Monotube dampers

The most basic type of shock absorber is a monotube damper. These devices are composed of a single hollow tube with two internal chambers—one for gas and the other for oil—separated by a floating divider. When compressed, the piston moves through the tube, forcing the oil through the piston's shim stacks.

The size, shape, and number of shims, as well as the size of the piston, the shaft diameter, the tube diameter, and the gas pressure, determine the damping force.

Monotube dampers are found on many types of modern cars, including the

Audi A4

and

Mazda MX-5 Miata

Twin-tube dampers

Twin-tube dampers use two tubes—the inner tube is filled with oil and houses the piston and shims, while the outer tube holds the gas and excess oil.

The shim stacks control the oil flow during compression and rebound, creating the damping force. These dampers also have an additional shim stack called the base valve. This valve directs excess oil into the outer tube during compression, contributing to the damping rate.

During rebound, gas in the outer tube forces the excess oil to return to the inner tube via a check valve.

These types of dampers are commonly found on the

Cadillac CT6

Chevrolet Impala

, and

Ram 1500

Internal bypass dampers

Internal bypass dampers are found on the

Ford F-150 Raptor

and are designed for off-road performance.

These shock absorbers create damping force in two ways. During compression, the piston moves through the tube, forcing the oil to the opposite end. The oil is pushed past a series of bypass holes in the middle of the tube—some oil flows through these holes and escapes back into the primary chamber behind the piston, creating a progressively greater damping force.

Once the piston passes the last bypass hole, the remaining oil is forced through the base valve into a secondary tube, substantially increasing the damping force.

Magnetorheological dampers

Magnetorheological dampers do not use shims or valves to control the damping rate. Instead, these shock absorbers use two electromagnetic coils inside the piston to change the oil's viscosity.

These dampers are filled with hydraulic fluid that contains tiny iron particles. During compression, the electromagnetic coils generate a field of electricity that causes the iron particles to arrange themselves into rigid lines, creating resistance. When the compression force becomes strong enough to break the lines, the piston moves, and the fluid flows through the passages.

These dampers are typical on high-performance luxury vehicles and racecars, like the

Cadillac CTS-V

Chevrolet Corvette

, and Lamborghini Huracán.

Spool-valve damper

Engineers build spool-valve dampers using hydraulic equations to achieve precise force/velocity curves. Spool valves inside the damper's tube contain a spring-loaded disc and allow oil to move through narrow holes as the spring compresses.

The area of the hole is determined by the force applied to the spring disc. When the pressure is greater, the size of the hole increases, allowing more oil to flow through. The most basic forms of spool-valve dampers have valves on both sides of the piston—one for compression and the other for the rebound.

You can find these dampers housed in an inverted strut on the

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE

and the

Chevrolet Colorado ZR2

Electronically controlled dampers

Electronically controlled dampers are available in both monotube and twin-tube designs. These dampers use electronically controlled valves to meter the oil flow and set the damping rate.

They are commonly found in performance and luxury cars, like the

Ford Focus RS

Infiniti Q50

, and

Volvo S90

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How do I know if I'm having problems with my dampers?

When you drive your car, the dampers work continuously. Because of this, they wear out over time, and you should plan to replace yours at some point. Generally, you can expect to get between four and five years out of your shock absorbers, but depending on the type of damper and your driving habits, you might not need to replace yours for up to 10 years.

That said, it's important to keep your car's suspension in good condition for the safety of yourself and your passengers. And you should be aware of the symptoms of failing dampers. Let's explore some of the most common signs of worn-out dampers:

The car bounces excessively. Typically, your vehicle should bounce once or twice after hitting a pothole or driving over a bump. If your car bounces more than once or twice before returning to its original position, your dampers may be faulty.

Excessive leaning while turning. Dampers help stabilize your vehicle when turning. If the car is leaning excessively to the side while turning, especially at low speeds, it might be time to replace your dampers.

The car squats during takeoff or dives forward when braking. If your dampers are worn-out, you're likely to notice your car's front end dives forward when braking or the rear end squats down when taking off.

Uneven tire wear. If the dampers cannot control the vehicle's movement properly due to age or damage, a common sign is uneven tire wear.

Fluid leaks. Oil or grease around the back of your wheels or in the wheel well is a good sign that the dampers are damaged.

Unusual sounds. You might need to replace your dampers if you hear strange sounds, like clunking, while driving over bumps.

How much do dampers cost to replace?

The cost to replace your dampers will depend on the type of car you drive, your location, and whether you plan to replace your shocks with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts or high-performance upgrades. To replace a pair of dampers—and yes, you should always replace shock absorbers in pairs—you can generally expect the price to fall somewhere between $250 and $580.

While the parts will usually cost between $100 and $280, the labor time will add $150 to $300 to the total bill. You can typically expect to pay a higher rate at the dealership, while independent shops usually provide lower rates.

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FAQS

Are dampers and shocks the same thing?

Yes—dampers and shocks are the same things. The official name for shocks or shock absorbers is dampers, as they dampen the vehicle's motion and prevent bouncing.

How do you adjust the dampers on a car?

To adjust your dampers, you'll need to have adjustable dampers installed on your vehicle. While you can put these on your everyday driver, they're most commonly found on performance and racecars.

Are dampers and shocks the same thing?

Yes—dampers and shocks are the same things. The official name for shocks or shock absorbers is dampers, as they dampen the vehicle's motion and prevent bouncing.

How do you adjust the dampers on a car?

To adjust your dampers, you'll need to have adjustable dampers installed on your vehicle. While you can put these on your everyday driver, they're most commonly found on performance and racecars.