Understanding Semi Truck Shocks and When to Replace Them
Semi truck shocks play an important role in maintaining the ride quality of a truck. They are responsible for dampening the impacts of bumps and other irregularities in the road, making riding in a semi truck much more comfortable.
Unfortunately, shocks can deteriorate over time due to regular wear and tear. It’s important to know when it’s time to replace them to ensure a smooth ride.
To understand how shocks work, it’s helpful to think of them as shock absorbers. They are essentially metal cylinders filled with oil, nitrogen gas, and sometimes air that work together to absorb the impact of bumps and other irregularities in the road.
When a shock absorbs an impact, it dissipates the energy into heat which is then dissipated into the atmosphere. The shock also helps control how much force is applied to each wheel so that all four wheels stay firmly planted on the ground. This helps improve handling and safety by reducing wheel spinouts or skidding on slippery surfaces.
So how do you know if your semi truck shocks are bad? The most obvious sign is if you can feel every bump while driving your vehicle.
If you notice that your ride isn’t as smooth as it used to be, then there’s a good chance that your shocks are worn out and need to be replaced. Another sign is if your vehicle leans excessively when cornering or braking hard. This is caused by old worn-out shocks not being able to dampen the forces applied during cornering or braking hard enough anymore.
You should also look for signs of physical damage such as cracks or tears in the rubber portions of your shocks or leaking oil from any part of them. If you find any of these signs then it’s time for new shocks as soon as possible for maximum safety and comfort while driving your semi truck.
Finally, there are certain maintenance checks you should do on your semi truck shocks at least once per year depending on how much you drive it – this includes visually inspecting them for damage or wear and tear, checking for any oil leaks from their seals, topping off their nitrogen gas levels (if applicable) and replacing any broken or missing parts like nuts & bolts etc.. Doing these simple checks will help extend the life of your shocks significantly which will save you money in the long run too!
Conclusion:
Knowing when it’s time to replace semi truck shocks is important for driver comfort and safety while on the road. Signs that they need replacing include feeling every bump while driving, excessive leaning when cornering or braking hard, physical damage such as cracks/tears in rubber parts of shock absorbers, or oil leaks from seals/parts of shock absorbers. Regular maintenance checks should also be done once per year at minimum depending on driving frequency which will help prolong shock life significantly reducing costs down the line too!
