Passenger Car Shock Absorbers from ZF Services

Shock absorbers are wear parts that are critical to vehicle safety. That’s why an expert should check for proper function in high-mileage vehicles in particular and replace the shock absorbers when necessary.

When retrofitting a car, it is important to take the original vehicle equipment into account. Quality aluminium shocks should therefore exclusively be replaced with corresponding OE-quality lightweight components. ZF's broad product portfolio satisfies market demands.

Car manufacturers often rely on aluminum for the chassis of their luxury class and premium vehicles and consistently prefer a lightweight design in their choice of components. Passenger car shock absorbers from this versatile material help decrease the overall vehicle weight, thereby contributing to vehicle fuel economy. At the same time, lightweight models are just as tough and durable as steel shock absorbers.

Regular inspections and timely replacement are crucial. ZF recommend that workshops advise customers to have their shock absorbers inspected regularly. Shocks need to be inspected every 80,000 km or after the recommended five to six year service interval and every 20,000 km after that. This is because worn or defective shocks can increase the risk of an accident. The stopping distance becomes longer, a car’s cornering ability becomes unstable and electronic driver assistance systems such as ABS, TCS and ESP lose their effectiveness as well. Nevertheless, according to estimates, many passenger cars adversely affect general road safety with defective shock absorbers. Another disadvantage of no longer fully functional shock absorbers is tyres wear out unevenly and other suspension components wear out more quickly, which is likewise associated with additional costs.

If shocks have to be replaced, this should always be done in pairs per axle. ZF recommend only using OE quality components. A lightweight product of the same material should also be used for aluminium shock absorbers. This ensures that the original vehicle configuration stays unchanged and the car’s weight advantage is maintained.

The complete product range, with a total of 4,000 items, can be found listed on their online catalogue, Webcat. Click here to view.