What Are Shocks And Why Are They Important?

Shocks are crucial in keeping your Land Rover’s tires firmly planted on the road at all times. What are shocks, and how do they work? We’ll answer all of the questions you may have about shocks in this article. If you still have questions after finishing this guide, please send them our way and we’ll answer them as soon as possible.

What Types of Shocks are Available?

Telescoping hydraulic shocks have been in existence since the '50's. In the mid-nineties, Land Rover began developing their own proprietary air shocks. In the early 2000's, many Land Rovers offered the option of air shocks on higher trim levels. Today, many Land Rovers come with air shocks as a standard feature. Air shocks offer the advantages of providing outstanding ride quality along with a very long life.

What do Shocks Look Like?

When you remove a wheel, you'll see the shock absorber. If it is a hydraulic shock, it will look like a telescoping metal tube, about 2" in diameter. If is is an air shock, the upper part of the tube will be aluminum, and about 5" in diameter. The air shocks also have an air line attached at the top.

Some Land Rovers have hydraulic shocks at all four wheels. Other Land Rovers have shocks at two wheels (and struts at the other two wheels). And many Land Rovers have air shocks at all four wheels.

How do Shocks Work?

Replace shocks

The main reason your Land Rover has shocks is to keep the tires on the ground and to keep the ride quality smooth.

The shocks on your car serve as the cushion between the frame and the axles. So when your car drives over a bump, your axles move up, but you and your passengers don't feel it as much. It's because the shocks absorb most of the impact.

If you have hydraulic shocks, there are also springs under your car to support its weight. Hydraulic shocks absorb the bouncing motions, but they do not support any weight. Air shocks also act as the spring. So they combine the functions of supporting the car and absorbing bouncing motions.

The Benefits of Having a Good Set of Shocks on Your Land Rover

When you have a good functioning set of shocks on your car, you'll enjoy the following benefits:

  • Smoother ride
  • More control over your car
  • Less wear and tear on suspension components

How Long do Shocks Last?

Land rover shock

Air shocks have a very long lifespan. They have been known to last longer than 200,000 miles. OEM hydraulic shocks usually go bad after 50,000 miles. Aftermarket shocks usually go bad earlier than that. Your shocks' lifespan depends on factors like your driving style and the bumpiness of the roads you drive on regularly.

Of course, neither air shocks or hydraulic shocks last forever. They are moving parts, and they wear out. So once you notice some signs that your shocks have gone bad, you would need to replace them as soon as you can. If you're comfortable replacing the shocks yourself, you can buy genuine OEM replacement shocks from us at discounted prices.

Got any questions about shocks that weren't answered in this guide? Please contact us!