The Garage 277

FOCUS Shock Absorbers 34
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Modern cars won’t see shock
absorber demand decline
THERE’S LIKELY to be as
much profit from the latest
shock absorbers come
replacement time: “Stability
and braking distances can
be adversely affected if
the shock absorbers are
not in good condition.
Systems such as ABS/ESP
can be activated incorrectly
if road wheel contact is
not maintained,” Wayne
McCluskey says.
the hard facts surrounding
safety.”
But while it’s important
workshops give their customers
as much information
as possible about the importance
of shock absorbers being
in good condition, workshops
have a duty of care
when it comes to supplying
and fitting replacements: All
parts have to be ‘fit for purpose’
and repairs have to be
carried out with ‘reasonable
care and skill’, ZF says.
While the problem of gradual
wear is one that has always
been part of a shock absorber’s
lifespan, that service
life can be curtailed quickly
as a result of pothole damage,
especially as a result of
this year’s drawn-out winter.
“Damage caused by pot
holes can vary massively. It
really depends on the depth
of the pothole, your speed
and the air pressure in your
tyre. Over time, suspension
wear is accelerated and serious
suspension damage is
becoming a more common
occurrence,” Wayne McCluskey
says.
JAPANPARTS GROUP
EXPANDS ITS LINE OF
SHOCK ABSORBERS
FROM JAPANPARTS Group all the information you need
for the correct maintenance of shock absorbers, which
have become a fast moving product for the company,
leading to an expansion of the product range covering
95% of the Asiatic, European and American vehicles on
the road.
The shock absorber absorbs and dissipates the energy
that is impressed or released by the suspension and thus
balance the system stopping the oscillation of the mass
over time. Therefore, adjusting the shock absorber means
adjusting the time necessary to eliminate the oscillation.
This is not a feat as easy as it would appear, given
that the average driver knows little or nothing about this
critical component and under the typical maintenance
programmes shock absorbers play little or no role.
A faulty shock absorber, lacking its damping force, even
if it has no evident impact on driving comfort can be a
hazard for safety. Therefore, it is possible that one drives
a potentially dangerous vehicle without even knowing
it. The reason why this occurs is found in the gradual
wear and tear process, which allows the driver to get
used to the lowered damping capacity. The International
Shock absorbers must be replaced in pairs on the same
chassis. In addition, it is recommended to replace also the
protection kits which may lose their elastic properties.
Japanparts Group has dedicated significant investments
to the development of these items, which have become
a fast moving product very quickly. For this reason, this
year the company has expanded the storing area, adding
a 13,000 square meter warehouse exclusively dedicated
to this product. In addition, currently, there are 1,600 part
numbers readily available in stock at the warehouse in
Verona, which allows not only quick deliveries in Italy but
also in every country where the Group has offices.
The product range does not include only products used
on vehicles of the Asian brands, in which Japanparts
Group has always been specialised, but also European and
American models: from the VAG Group to the FCA Group,
the Renault Group (Renault-Nissan-Dacia), PSA Group,
BMW, GM, Mercedes, Subaru, Toyota and Volvo. Among
the most recent additions there are Cadillac, Hummer,
Land Rover, Smart, Piaggio and DR.
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