Bilstein 5100 Series Shocks
The Benefits of Performance Shocks
Shocks actually have a very important purpose. They control your vehicle’s spring and suspension movement. This is accomplished by turning the kinetic energy of suspension movement into thermal energy, or heat energy, which is to be dissipated through the hydraulic fluid. Huh? I know, lots of technical jargon. Basically, shock absorbers are oil pumps. A piston is attached to the end of the piston rod and works against hydraulic fluid in the pressure tube. The suspension travels up and down, which forces the hydraulic fluid through tiny holes inside the piston. These holes, known as orifices, only let a small amount of fluid through the piston. This slows down the piston, which in turn, slows down spring and suspension movement.
How do shock absorbers differ from each other? Well, the amount of resistance a shock absorber develops depends on the speed of the suspension and the size and number off orifices in the piston. Modern shock absorbers are velocity hydraulic damping devices, which means the faster the suspension moves, the more resistance the shock absorber provides. Because of this, your shocks will adjust to road conditions.
