shocks Options

[pandakid]

ok someone at NAPA told me my car doesn't have shocks. is that true? cause the back of my car bounches like crazy,sounds like a horse gallupe. im asking if the back have Shocks or Struts? (i have a USDM hatchback GT if matthers)

[jcagle]

Here's the basics of the whole strut tower setup. There are two components, a dash pot (commonly known as a shock absorbed) and a spring (helical spring). A dash pot compresses a fluid, was occurs through stress (pressure), this means the response force of the shock is based on velocity, i.e. the quicker the impact, the greater the forced. A springs displacement is a function of force, whihc means they apply a linearly increasing response force, as load increses. So, if your car is baning every time you hit a bump, it is probably the shocks. An easier way to tell is by pushing down on the trunk and releasing. The initial rate of return wll show the condition of the springs, the settling time (how long it takes to stop), shows the condition of the shock absorbers.