A shock absorber, commonly known as a shock damper, is a hydraulic device placed in vehicles. The application of this device is to absorb shock impulses suffered throughout the motion of theautomobile.The operation of a shock absorber is executed by the conversion of kinetic energy into thermal energy or heat. The heat is then dissipated into the surroundings leaving behind the smooth movement of the vehicle. Shock absorbers lower the negative impact upon a car travelling over a rough terrain. This ultimately leads to improved driveability and handling of the vehicle. The sole purpose of the absorbers is not only to limit the movement of suspension but to dampen spring oscillations.
Bumper Absorbers:
Bumper to bumper collisions are very common in busy traffic. A bumper absorber in this case will save the car from a total wrecking. High quality Styrofoam is used in the manufacture of these absorbers. The material is soft but has a capability to absorb impact and reduce damage.
Material:
Bumper absorbers are manufactured from different types of materials. The application of the bumper absorber however remains the same. All of the materials dampen impact but with different affectivity and at a different cost.
Foam:
foam is the most common material used in the manufacture of bumper absorbers. Foam is the softest of the material a bumper absorber is made from. Although foam manufactured damper is cheap, the softness result in less impact being absorbed upon impact.
Aluminium:
Aluminium bumper absorbers come with an exclusive advantage of being ultra light. They will not weigh down the car as it moves. The problem with aluminium manufactured bumper absorbers is that they are expensive and hard to find in the market. This is the result of aluminium
being a material that is hard to weld and fabricate.
Plastic:
Plastic is a popular material to manufacture bumper dampers out of. Plastic absorbers are not the cheapest in the market. Plastic dampers come with the advantage that they are very good at absorbing energy upon impact. Plastic absorbers have to be replaced from time to time. Impacts create cracks in the plastic and leave the car vulnerable to future impacts.
Installation of a Bumper Absorber:
The installation of a bumper absorber is not a piece of cake for anyone. It is a difficult task often best left to the professional mechanics.
To start with the operation, a few tools will be required. A screwdriver set, Wrench and socket set and a floor jack will be needed. The first step is to disconnect all connections from the headlights of the vehicle. After this disconnection, the front bumper is to be removed including the lights, licence plate and the bumper trim.The floor jack will now be used to support the weight of the vehicle. Screws are to be removed which hold the fender liners to gain access into the cover bolts of the bumper. Mounts and bolts are now to be removed that hold the bumper cover. The next step is to drill the rivets out to remove the absorber from the vehicle. Now the new bumper absorber is aligned and placed to perfectly fit. The whole operation is now reversed and every component unscrewed will be screwed back. Care is to be taken not to damage the absorber in the process.
