During their service life, shock absorbers mutate into air pumps: after about two sets of worn tires, shock absorbers usually have only 50% of their original efficiency - then they need to be replaced. Since their efficiency decreases gradually, and not suddenly, most drivers unconsciously adjust to the deteriorating driving quality: in extreme situations, this leads to unpleasant surprises. Therefore, check the shock absorbers once a year on the test bench of the car club, TUV or DEKRA. The rocking method, when you grab the wing of the car to check its behavior under residual vibrations, is not enough. In this way, you will only find a shock absorber that has completely failed. However, pay attention to the following symptoms:
- Is the steering pulsating? In this case, the wheels are "dancing" over the ground or are not balanced correctly.
- Does your Focus continue to bounce around a lot after going over a crease in the ground?
- How does the car handle on turns? Does it feel loose? Does it bounce around after every bump in the road?
- Are the tires wearing unevenly (treads worn down in spots)?
- Do you notice large traces of oil on the shock absorber body? Small traces of sweating are normal.
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