Shock absorber bushing

The dust shield and stops of the shock absorbers and shock absorber support have the function of absorbing the vibrations of the running gear, and they protect the shock absorber rod from dirt. The stop is a longish flexible part containing a hole by which it can be attached to the rod. The dust shield is a wavy sheet, which is attached to the rod, and it ensures a closed nature for the part.
It covers the shock absorber rod, while the dust shield stops prevent metal parts from touching one another. The parts protect the spring from damage, and they also responsible for ensuring the reliable operation of the running gears of the vehicle. The dust shield and the stops could be separate parts. This is called a separated design. They can also have a common design established as a single part. The part could be made of rubber, silicone or polyurethane.

What to observe?
The average life span of the part is 40,000 km.
It is desirable to have it checked regularly, so that any malfunction or damage of the device could be detected in time for preventing more extensive repair work.
If the dust shield of the shock absorber gets damages, then the rod becomes dirty. The contamination accelerates the wear, and it can cause the failure of seal and the stop.
The parts cannot be repaired and must be replaced after their life span has expired. Special equipment, engineering knowledge and experience is necessary for the installation.

Faults of the part

• The fastener on the stop road gets loosened
• Damage to the part (cracks, break, torn dirt shield)
• The part loses its flexibility

Sign of faulty part

• Strong knocking sound during driving
• The vehicle leans and bends during acceleration
• The rear of the vehicle sinks

Reasons of faulty parts

• Neglected maintenance
• Poor quality of installed part
• Destructing effect of chemicals on the road
• Overloaded vehicle