Which shock absorbers are better: features of choice and rating of manufacturers. What are the different types of shock absorbers, their pros and cons

03.03.2020

Question " what's better”, perhaps one of the most frequently asked questions on the Internet. We, people, tend to doubt the choice of this or that product, thing, and anything ... Drivers are people too, so we have no less doubts than a simple layman. We constantly make some kind of choice, starting with the choice of a car, ending. Moreover, every day we imperceptibly make hundreds of vital decisions, for example, performing a complex maneuver, on the correct implementation of which more than one human life sometimes depends...

Structurally, a shock absorber is a cylinder with a piston, on which there are valves with different flow area and different throughput. In the case of oil shock absorbers, it passes through the valve holes, when compressed, it quickly passes through the holes, and the back valves limit the rate of fluid passage, thereby preventing the shock absorber from quickly stretching.

Shock absorbers with gas chambers are called gas shock absorbers. Gas shock absorbers have only one cylinder, in which the pressure is approximately 25 bar. The floating piston separates the gas from the oil, preventing them from mixing, due to this high gas pressure, the oil is not able to foam. As a damping element in gas shock absorbers, the same chambers are used, only instead they use a special gas. According to a non-linear law, the stiffness of a gas shock absorber increases with tension or compression, which, by the way, is not typical for oil shock absorbers.

The main differences between gas-oil shock absorbers

We have already figured out how gas and oil shock absorbers work and what they consist of, the question remains - what kind of "such a beast" gas-oil shock absorber. In a nutshell, the gas-oil shock absorber is a kind of compromise between gas and oil shock absorbers. The gas-oil shock absorber has almost the same design as the oil shock absorber, it also consists of two cylinders. The upper part is filled with nitrogen, the cylinder itself is under a pressure of 2.5-5 bar, which increases the effectiveness of the shock absorbers. The principle is as follows - the higher the gas pressure on the oil, the faster the response of the shock absorbers, while the car's suspension will be stiffer.

Summing up

Oil shock absorbers softer, since they use only oil, which, like all liquids, is almost not subject to compression, as a result, the stroke, as well as the shock absorber force, will directly depend on the check valves in the piston of the shock absorber cylinder. In terms of travel, the oil damper will be softer and more energetic.

Gas shock absorbers can be called more rigid, since the second working medium of the shock absorber is gas, which itself is able to compress, despite the fact that it is under high pressure. As a result, the gas will also take part in softening the ride of the car and the force on the shock absorber rod. All this makes the shock absorber more rigid and less inertial in relation to the movement of the rod. The main "chip" of the gas shock absorber is its ability to change the stiffness properties depending on the road, by means of a gas chamber, which dampens vibrations due to its non-linearity during operation. The gas shock absorber is less soft and less elastic, therefore, during the passage of uneven sections, the suspension with gas shock absorbers can seem very stiff and extremely uncomfortable. However, rigidity is at the same time a plus of this type of strut, since for a frisky ride or maneuvers, a large stroke of the rod and increased softness are simply unacceptable.

So which shock absorbers are better - gas or oil, or is it still gas-oil?

This issue is quite controversial, so it’s impossible to say for sure that this one is better, and that one is worse. Everyone must decide for himself what is more priority for him, based on what is written above. In addition, it is necessary to follow the recommendations of the automaker, it is the manufacturer who knows for sure which shock absorber can provide the necessary resistance, and a comfortable ride for passengers. Another thing is when manufacturers install shock absorbers of a "budget" sample in order to save money, but this does not suit you, in which case you can install your own version. However, those devices that you are going to install should have the parameters as close as possible in order not to disturb the driving performance of the car.

Service life and price of shock absorbers

As you know, gas shock absorbers have a more complex design, primarily due to additional damping chambers filled with gas. In addition, due to the use of seals for working with gas. For the manufacture of such devices, a more radical approach is needed, and the seals themselves must have a more rigid design.

As for the service life, it will primarily depend on the shock absorbers themselves, as well as the roads on which the vehicle will be operated. If the shock absorber is of high quality, it may well serve 60,000 km, or even more. However, if we compare resource of oil and gas devices, under equal operating conditions and quality, the oil shock absorber will last longer due to the simplicity of its design. In addition, the cost of oil shock absorbers will be about 20-30% lower compared to gas ones.

A very popular question among motorists is which shock absorbers are better: gas or oil, or gas-oil? And he is interested not only in lovers of a comfortable ride, but also in those who consider themselves to be "racers". In fact, shock absorbers provide many important parameters of the car, and above all - handling and directional stability.

Why do we need shock absorbers in a car, how they are arranged and work, what types of shock absorbers are and what are their advantages and disadvantages - the answers to these questions will help you make the right choice among a large number of manufacturers of these products on the Russian market.

At the end of the article, as usual, you can watch a video in which the author tells and shows which shock absorbers are better to choose (gas, oil or gas-oil) and how they differ from each other.

A shock absorber is an integral part of what provides comfort in the car body (sprung mass in technical terminology). The opposite of this term can be clearly illustrated with an old village cart on wooden wheels with a metal rim. It is easy to imagine how the passengers in such a wagon shake when driving on a rough dirt road.

To smooth out this shaking from potholes and potholes (or in technical terms, to damp vibrations in the vertical plane arising from road obstacles) is the main function of shock absorbers. Schematically, the shock absorber can be represented as a spring located between the wheels of the car (the tire, by the way, is also a kind of spring in this diagram) and the body.

In general, to assess the response to vertical impacts of the road, a car can be represented as a mechanical system consisting of many weights, springs and friction knots, interconnected in a complex way and providing the required smoothness. And shock absorbers play an important role in this scheme.

The principle of operation and the main types of shock absorbers (oil, gas, gas-oil)

You can illustrate the principle of the shock absorber with a simple example (see the pictures above):

The lower part of the spring-loaded suspension strut is connected to the wheel through the shock absorber rod, and the upper part is connected to the car body.
The impact from unevenness through the wheel is transmitted to the rod, which moves the piston inside the cylinder.
There are two bypass valves in the piston (simplified - holes of different diameters), which allow almost incompressible oil to pass at a higher speed when the rod (and hence the wheel) moves up, and at a lower speed down.

Thus, the hydraulic part of the shock absorber works as a conditionally soft spring for compression, and a hard one for tension (“rebound” in technical terminology).

The mechanical spring in the figure is shown to a greater extent for clarity, but in practice it expands the possibilities of settings and serves as a kind of limiter when the shock absorber hydraulic cylinder fails.

The definition of "oil shock absorber" implies that only hydraulic oil is used as a working material in the cylinder. The dynamics of the oil shock absorber is entirely determined by the work (performance) of the bypass valves.

To expand the dynamic range and adjustment possibilities of oil shock absorbers, a kind of gas "cushion" was invented. The fact is that gases, unlike liquids, are compressed, and non-linearly (not proportional to the movement of the rod). This means that being "attached" to the "oil" part of the cylinder, they will make the dynamics of such a system richer.

The figure below shows a simplified design of a single-tube gas shock absorber.

Scheme of a single-tube gas shock absorber

It is clear that without the lower (gas) part, it becomes oily (only the squeezed out excess must be put somewhere, but more on that below).

And since shock absorbers filled exclusively with gas are not yet found on production cars, it is more correct to call such a design a “gas-oil shock absorber”.

For oil and gas-oil shock absorbers, the working cylinder of the device is usually two-pipe:

In oil shock absorbers, excess oil comes out into the second (larger diameter) pipe through additional valves during compression, “pressed” in the second pipe by air.
In gas-oil shock absorbers, a gas cushion (usually nitrogen under pressure) is pumped into the second pipe instead of air.

Sometimes the gas cushion in gas-oil shock absorbers is structurally located on the side of the cylinder.

Main types of shock absorbers

In addition to a narrower range of elasticity characteristics, the cushion of air in the oil shock absorber does not effectively dissipate the heat energy released during intensive work, which sometimes leads to the boiling of the working fluid. In a gas-oil shock absorber, this effect is excluded.

Like any hydraulic technique, shock absorber cylinders require high-precision (precision) machining, a complex system of valves and seals, and for gas-oil shock absorbers this system only becomes more complicated.

Since the gas-filled part of the shock absorber significantly expands the dynamic range of the system, in general, the device assumes a softer response to road bumps than in the "oil" version - it's like a series connection of two springs: soft and hard, which in total gives a softer response than just a hard one. spring.

Interestingly, manufacturers do exactly the opposite and adjust gas shock absorbers to a greater extent for an aggressive driving style and sports cars. More precisely, on well-paved roads, the gas dampers are set to a softer response from vertical influences, and on bad roads with the same settings they become stiffer.

It must be emphasized that in sports driving smoothness is far from in the first place: parameters such as handling and directional stability are much more important, which gas shock absorbers provide better than oil ones.

The Russian market of shock absorbers for foreign cars with a share of the main players of 10 percent or more, according to the Autoinstruction magazine, is represented by several well-known companies (diagram in the figure above):

KYB (Kayaba) - 35%;
Boge (God) - 16%;
Fenox (Phenox) - 15%;
Monroe (Monroe) - 14%;
Bilstein (Bilstein) - 11%;
Other firms - 9%.

It is interesting that during a survey of service centers conducted by the publication "Kuzov", for the recommendations of professionals on the choice of a manufacturer of high-quality shock absorbers, the picture turned out to be somewhat different.

With firms such as KYB, Bilstein, and Boge leading the way, Monroe is only 5% of the time pros recommend it, even though the firm's market share is nearly three times higher. And they practically do not recommend the Belarusian brand Fenox, the share of products of which is very significant - 15%.

To figure out which shock absorbers are better to put, it is necessary to briefly dwell on the characteristics of the leading players in the Russian market.

KYB(Kayaba) - the products of the Japanese concern are popular not only in Russia, but also in Europe due to their high quality and reliability at a relatively low price level. Shock absorbers of this company can be found on the conveyors of well-known European automakers. The gas-oil shock absorber of the Ultra SR series is especially popular with Russian sports driving enthusiasts;
Bilstein(Bilstein) is a world famous German company that has been manufacturing shock absorbers for over 50 years. It was here that the design of a single-tube gas-filled shock absorber was developed. Bilstein products are installed on European premium brands: BMW, Porsche, Mercedes, Ferrari, Maseratti, Jaguar;
God(Boge) - the brand belongs to the concern ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Germany) - one of the world's oldest manufacturers of shock absorbers. Recently moved to another well-known brand - SACHS and now the same type of products are produced under two trademarks. The concern's products cover more than 90% of the range of world automakers. On the Russian market, a 1-year warranty is provided, regardless of mileage;
Monroe(Monroe) is an American company whose products are probably the most famous in Europe and are intended for 99% of the world's makes and models of cars. Monroe's latest developments - Sensatrac series gas shock absorbers provide high controllability and instant response to changing driving conditions;
Koni(Horses) - shock absorbers - this is the only product of the Dutch company for almost 70 years. The main distinguishing feature of Koni shock absorbers is the ability to adjust the stiffness parameters, adapting the car both to external conditions and to the individual characteristics of the driver and the manner of driving the car.

But are all major manufacturers of shock absorbers widely represented on the Russian market? The figure below shows the top six players in this market in the US according to a survey by Ranker.

The first three consists of participants in the Russian rating. But the products of the American fox racing and Swedish Ohlins specific - it is designed for motorcycles, ATVs and SUVs. American Rancho Suspension in Russia is quite well-known and specializes in the supply of products for pickups and large SUVs popular in the USA. A few years ago, Rancho was acquired by Tenneco, which in turn owns the Monroe trademark.

Thus, the first three manufacturers of shock absorbers with a high reputation for Russia are KYB, Monroe And Bilstein.

As for the objective characteristics provided by shock absorbers and affecting the safety, handling and comfort of the car, they look like the following according to the manufacturers themselves.

Braking distance at a speed of 40 km / h:

Bilstein - 8.0 meters;
Monroe - 8.5 meters;
KYB - 9.0 meters.

The differences are quite significant, if you remember that in a critical situation, centimeters of stopping distance are important.

Rear axle drift 90° (tight turn mode):

Bilstein - 59 km / h;
Monroe - 52 km / h;
KYB - 48 km / h.

Tests for smoothness (characteristics closely related to subjective comfort) and directional stability are carried out in relation to each specific car model, therefore, it is possible to compare shock absorbers from different manufacturers only for specific cars.

Interestingly, such tests sometimes give paradoxical results: venerable firms can lose out to outsiders, both in individual indicators and in aggregate test results.

And yet, which shock absorbers to choose? Given the variety of designs, a wide range of loads and significant differences in the characteristics of different models of cars, as well as individual characteristics of the driving style, one should not expect monosyllabic answers to this question.

It is necessary to rely, first of all, on the recommendations of the car manufacturer, both in terms of characteristics and in terms of shock absorber manufacturers. If the owner wants to change the dynamics of the car due to shock absorbers (or there is no way to follow the manufacturer's recommendations exactly), general considerations on how to choose shock absorbers for a car can be formulated as follows:

Selection by type (oil, gas, gas-oil):

For those who prefer comfort, a quiet ride, reliability and affordable prices, two-pipe oil shock absorbers are suitable;
If you want comfort requirements combined with improved cornering dynamics, and the cost and reliability of the part are in a reasonable range, then twin-tube gas-oil shock absorbers are the right choice;
Single-tube gas shock absorbers are designed for aggressive driving enthusiasts who prefer the handling of the car to a smooth ride.

By the way, the age of the car is also an important factor in making a decision. It is hardly advisable to install expensive gas shock absorbers on cars of venerable age with high mileage: the elastic characteristics of the suspension and body strength indicators deteriorate over time, and instead of the expected one, you can get the opposite effect.

Choice by manufacturer (which company shock absorbers are better):

If the car belongs to the budget segment, and there is no need to test it in sports modes, and funds for maintenance are limited, shock absorbers from the Russian company SAAZ or the Belarusian Fenox may well be suitable;
Those who appreciate quality and are ready to pay for it (even if the car does not belong to expensive foreign cars) should pay attention to the products of KYB, Monroe and Boge (Sachs);
The products of Bilstein and KONI (the aristocrats in the world of shock absorbers) are recommended by experts for both sports driving enthusiasts and owners of premium cars.

And, of course, you need to beware of fakes: if the price for Bilstein products in the store is the same as for the Belarusian Fenox, then something is wrong with such a seller (and not with respect to Fenox). And the recipe for verification is the presence of a certificate of conformity, a warranty card and the correspondence of a unique serial number to the data on the official website of the manufacturer.

Differences between gas, gas-oil and oil shock absorbers, their pros and cons

The shock absorber, an element of the running gear in the car, serves to reduce the shocks of the maneuverable elements of the car, such as wheels, suspension. It is used together with springs, providing comfort while driving, especially on a bad road, preventing unpleasant vibration. When the front shock absorbers are worn, the braking distance increases by about 50%.

Varieties of shock absorber designs

The shock absorber provides comfort while driving, especially on a bad road, preventing unpleasant vibration.

Shock absorbers are of several types:

oil;
single-pipe gas;
two-pipe gas;
gas-oil.

This article details the advantages and disadvantages of popular shock absorbers.

Oil shock absorber

This is a mechanism in which the cavity is filled with special oil. A metal rod drives a piston in a cylindrical housing. The suspension spring holds the piston, but when driving on a rough road, the rod drops, the oil is compressed, enters and remains in the over-piston cavity.
So, the oil moves in turn through the chambers, and the rod dampens the vertical vibrations of the spring. Due to this, the car shakes less.
The main quality of an oil shock absorber is softness in operation. Passengers practically do not feel sharp shaking and jolts when driving over bumps and pits.
But on sharp turns and at high speed the car heels. There may be a management situation. And another such imperfection of oil shock absorbers is oil boiling (cavitation effect).

Gas-filled shock absorber

Gas-oil shock absorber Monroe

In the gas damper, the cylinder is divided into two parts. The working fluid is poured into the upper cavity of the cylinder. The chamber at the bottom contains compressed gas. Oil and gas are placed in the same cavity, although in separate chambers. Such a shock absorber is called a single-tube.

Most often, gas racks are placed on SUVs, which mainly drive on large impassability.

Significant advantages of the gas single-tube shock absorber are the absence of cavitation. Also, the car does not heel when cornering, even at high speeds. Most often, gas racks are placed on SUVs, which mainly drive on large impassability.
But these racks also have a flaw: the rigidity during movement is very noticeable to passengers in the cabin. Especially if the road is potholed. The suspension also suffers from this. Rigidity comes from high gas pressure, which ensures reliable traction at high speed.
In addition to the single-tube, there is also a double-tube gas shock absorber. It has two cavities: working and compensatory. Considered the most efficient.
The advantages of such a shock absorber: good grip, oil lasts for several years.
Disadvantages: foaming that interferes with cooling, which in turn leads to difficult control of the car and the car collapses when cornering.
When installing gas shock absorbers, ("enable"). This will increase their service life.

Which shock absorbers are better, single-tube or twin-tube

The only drawback of single-tube shock absorbers is the high price. It is also not recommended to install on a machine capable of developing high speed.
Twin-tube shock absorbers have great endurance. Being in a heated state, the oil does not boil. In addition, the price is lower.

Which shock absorbers are better: gas or oil

BOGE shock absorber kit

Strictly speaking, both modifications are popular. But the advantage still remains with gas models. They are more reliable, rarely leak and break. Better tolerate temperature and pressure loads. But if you ask yourself which racks are softer, gas or oil, then the answer will remain with the second option. Oil dampers and more elastic, which gives better controllability of the machine. Due to the fact that they use only oil, they are much softer, energetic.
What is the difference between a gas shock absorber and an oil shock absorber? First of all, the design. In addition, the gas damper is designed for high-speed driving on a flat road. And oil ones are more suitable for moving on broken roads, but at low speed.
When solving such a question: which shock absorber struts are better gas or oil, first of all it is worth remembering the recommendations of the car manufacturer. The best depreciation will be regular.

Oil shock absorbers are more suitable for moving on broken roads, but at low speed.

Many motorists prefer gas shock absorbers. It is worth considering the difference between a gas shock absorber and an oil shock absorber:

the presence of a rigid suspension for fast driving;
perfect grip on the road;
protection of the machine from aquaplaning;
and with all these virtues there will be shaking on a rough road.

So which shock absorbers are better: gas or oil? Still, drivers do not like oil shock absorbers. And the reason is that in the cold, the oil warms up for a long time, which is why the trip is completely uncomfortable. In addition, with a long and fast ride, the oil can become airy and lead to.

Gas-oil shock absorbers

SACHS dampers

This is also a gas shock absorber, the device is almost like an oil shock absorber, it has two cylinders. According to its technical characteristics, it is softer than its counterparts. Mainly used in passenger cars.
Advantages of this rack: there are no large rolls when cornering. The oil does not boil and the life of the parts is increased. Designed for everyday travel. This rack is universal, can be used everywhere, but still it is better to drive around the city.

What shock absorbers are better to put

Unlike oil shock absorbers, gas-oil shock absorbers provide better controllability of the machine. They are more reliable, and work as softly as oil, bringing comfort to the cabin. They are more protected from breakdown.

Unlike oil shock absorbers, gas-oil shock absorbers provide better controllability of the machine.

It is difficult to say which shock absorbers are better: oil or gas-oil.
It is necessary to take into account the factory settings of the mechanism, dimensions and other features. Do not neglect the study of the technical characteristics of your car. The manufacturer accurately calculates the suspension and, of course, regular shock absorbers fit the car.

When installing a shock absorber with enhanced characteristics, the load on the chassis increases. When purchasing gas or gas-oil shock absorbers, you should seriously pay attention to this, and select racks that are identical to the regular ones.
And yet, the decision which shock absorber is better to choose remains with the buyer. If the car is operated off-road, then it is better to acquire soft types. On a good, even road surface - hard.

The best shock absorbers for a car

Kayaba shock absorbers are considered the best

To date, there are leading manufacturing companies that produce high-quality shock absorbers for cars:

Which shock absorbers are better to install is determined from their technical parameters: for a certain brand of car and driving method.

KAYABA Japan;
KONI Netherlands;
MONROE Belgium;
SACH Germany;
BOGE Germany;
GABRIEL jointly France and America;
DELCO America.

There are many different types of shock absorbers on the market. And the solution to the question of which shock absorbers is better to install is determined from their technical parameters: for a certain brand of car, for a comfortable or sporty driving method. It's all up to the driver.

Which front shock absorbers are better

For example, the front shock absorber struts TM "SUPER TRAFFIC" of the "PROJECT" series, hydraulic, collapsible, self-adjusting. Racks and dampers work and soft and comfortable at low speeds, and hard.
It is not possible to determine with accuracy which shock absorber struts are better. Shock absorbers are chosen for individual reasons. In the car, something constantly wears out, something needs to be changed, including shock absorbers. The main thing is safety, and this should be the starting point.

Conclusion

How to decide which shock absorbers are better: gas or oil, or gas-oil? It's not easy to say for sure. Features may vary by manufacturer. For the European region of Russia, shock absorbers are supplied from Spain, and for Siberia - from Japan, designed for the special climatic conditions of this area.

Which shock absorbers are better and more reliable to put on your car - gas, oil or gas-oil. Now you can pick up almost any type, but which ones are more comfortable?

DEFINITELY OIL AND A COOL COMPANY .. DOES NOT KEEP MY GAS OIL ... ALREADY TRIED EVERYTHING SET THE ORIGINAL .. AS THE BOOK WRITES

The oil shock absorber works hard to decompress. It slips in very easily!

wouldn't it be easier to put stiff springs with oil struts.

Thanks for the clear explanation, very helpful info! Of course like it.

The best is oil on our roads to fly holes on the pavement.

You lower the car and roll much less than all the manipulations with springs and dampers, and the car remains as soft, and if you increase the wheel diameter in addition, you will generally be like in a game of twist metal between two wheels, you will generally drive, THIS IS WHY PEOPLE LOVE Infiniti fx35 , she gives it all from the factory, she has 20 wheels from the factory, everything is calculated, the engine, hodovka and gearbox and, accordingly, the body, since the base is located between two huge wheels. And it is also nice that you are not sitting on the floor, but high.

mine have already passed 240 thousand and live-original wv.

And if the rear gas oil. You can put oil on the front. Thanks in advance

You are well done. Everything is so short and detailed.)

What are the best springs to use? tof dog or emu. would you answer? what should you look at? Thanks in advance!

Hello, can you tell me what is better to put on Pajero 4? I'm advised to buy amory old man emo sport! or a professional finder with tof dog springs! the profiler seems to be two-pipe)))))

Thanks, I think oil is suitable for Lanos. Thanks to the author

the piston does not press on the lower piston))) where does such information come from?))

Which shock absorbers are best for light trailers with spring suspension?

Hello. Why do front shock absorbers knock when unclenched in pits?

There are also self-leveling shock absorbers - and here they are really “golden” - their comfort and price are higher than all three in the video. These I skated from the factory 230 thousand km. The gas pressure inside them is about 150 atm. That is why they are twice as heavy as ordinary gas ones. If it were not for the dead anthers and the absence of their replacement, they would still work. And so the stock standing at their bottom gradually killed the seals from dust and lost their elasticity. One drip and replaced with gas oil.

explain what he is talking about rolls from the 3rd minute?)

In Russia, there is no expensive for gas-oil shock absorbers, and even more so for gas ones)

SO WHICH ARE MORE DURABLE AND RELIABLE.

what about hydropneumatic?

Good video. Inspires confidence

YOUNG GUY EXPLAINED CLEARLY.

the best review I've ever seen!

Renault Logan has gas-oil shock absorbers and works effectively. I vote for them!

Thank you for the video. Everything is very detailed, competent and intelligible.

gas shock absorbers are on the trunk lids of hatches and station wagons.

Thank you, it's useful! Only correctly write and speak valves and gas-oil shock absorbers

A car is, first of all, wheels, it’s not just that people call cars like that, wheels (get wheels). This is the main fulcrum of the car, and shock absorbers are the damping element between the body and the wheels. Of course, no one detracts from the role of a spring or springs, but springs can only work in one direction. The spring is not able to quickly extinguish the vibrations that occur when driving on rough roads. The spring is complemented by a shock absorber, which is an integral part of the suspension, working in the opposite direction. It is he who dampens the vibrations and pitching of the body.

Which shock absorbers to choose

What are shock absorbers

To date, two types can be distinguished:

Oil shock absorbers (working medium oil);
Gas shock absorbers (working medium gas and oil).

The standard placement of shock absorbers in a car is one per wheel. Sometimes they install two per wheel. A shock absorber is a cylinder containing a piston and a valve system. When the shock absorber is compressed, the medium (oil or gas) freely passes through the piston, while stretching, the valve does not give maximum flow, holding back the rapid expansion of the shock absorber. With the help of various air chambers, valves and cylinders, the shock absorber dampens all the pitching and vibrations, ensuring a smooth ride of the car.

What is the difference between gas and oil shock absorbers

How are shock absorbers different?

In a gas shock absorber, the chambers are not air, they contain gas. The key difference is the variable compression stiffness (it increases), which is completely unusual for a liquid medium. However, one hundred percent of gas shock absorbers simply do not exist, they have a mixed environment - oil, gas, hence the name unofficial gas-oil.

Oil vibration damping devices are more rigid, since there is only one working medium in the shock absorber - oil. And since liquids are very poorly compressible, the corresponding stroke characteristics are obtained. In gas shock absorbers, the working medium is double, and it is easily compressible. Gas devices are more adaptable to changing road conditions. The gas-oil shock absorber absorbs small irregularities very gently, but when the rod movements become significant, the device increases rigidity. This (wide operating range) is one of the main advantages of gas shock absorbers. By and large, it all depends on the correct setting of the valves, the selection of the volume of the chambers, and other design features.

Which shock absorbers are better

So which ones to choose?

The best choice will be those shock absorbers that are recommended by the manufacturer of your car. Replacing them with devices with significantly different performance characteristics will adversely affect the operation of the car. Automakers are well aware of the properties and features of various shock absorbers. They scrupulously calculate the suspension of their cars down to microns, the smallest details. Therefore, for a comfortable and safe ride, it is better to use standard shock absorbers. According to the characteristics for any brand and model, you can choose the appropriate option for both types.

If you mainly drive on a flat road, highway, then your choice is stiffer shock absorbers, but if the car is operated on bumpy surfaces, then you should choose softer options. The original shock absorber can last up to 60 thousand mileage, oil shock absorbers are more reliable, since their design is simpler. At a cost, gas shock absorbers are somewhat more expensive, twenty percent.

Which shock absorbers are better oil, gas or gas-oil

Shock absorbers are one of the main components of a car's suspension. They provide smooth movement on rough roads and do not allow excessive rocking of the car.

In total, there are three main types of shock absorbers for passenger cars, these are oil, gas and gas-oil shock absorbers. In this article, we will talk about how they work, their pros and cons, as well as which shock absorbers are best for urban and suburban use.

What are oil shock absorbers

Double tube oil shock absorber.

Oil (liquid, hydraulic) shock absorbers are used on passenger cars in more than half of the cases. They are arranged quite simply: there is a cylindrical chamber filled with oil, and a piston with small through holes runs in it, dividing the chamber into two parts. When hitting a bump, the shock absorber is compressed - oil flows through the holes in the piston from one part of the chamber to another. This is a relatively slow process, whereby the oil smooths out the vibrations and softens the impact.

they are quite simple to manufacture, therefore, as a rule, they are significantly cheaper than other types;
they can be repaired without any problems in case of malfunctions or even restored in a very worn condition;
provide good softness of movement due to high compliance - they can be squeezed with bare hands;
in general, their dimensions are much smaller than those of gas shock absorbers.

high softness turns into excessive buildup of the body and instability in corners, especially at high speed;
while driving, the oil heats up and fills with air bubbles, which makes the shock absorbers even more pliable;
at low temperatures, the oil thickens, as a result, the suspension becomes stiff;
oil shock absorbers cannot boast of special durability, they are sensitive to the slightest deformations.

What are gas shock absorbers

Single tube gas shock absorber.

What they call gas shock absorbers are actually the same hydraulic, oil shock absorbers, only with the addition of an air chamber. There are no shock absorbers that use only gas. At least in the mass industry aimed at passenger cars. In fact, any gas shock absorber is gas-oil. But for convenience, they are divided into two separate types, because they are arranged differently.

There is nothing complicated in the design of gas shock absorbers either - almost everything is the same as in liquid shock absorbers, only one more chamber with highly compressed gas is added, usually nitrogen. It turns out that when squeezing, energy is absorbed not only and not even so much by oil, but by this very compressed gas.

they are usually very rigid, due to which they give the car excellent stability and controllability;
they tolerate heat or low temperatures much more easily, without losing their performance properties so much;
they can unclench themselves and generally react faster to changes in the level of the roadway;
more durable than purely hydraulic shock absorbers by 30-50 percent.

due to the highest rigidity, it can be problematic to use them even in the city - the slightest unevenness is clearly felt;
transmitting all the vibrations to the body, such shock absorbers wear out it and interior parts more, generate a lot of noise;
on rough roads, they contribute to the rapid wear of the suspension;
their cost is significantly higher than that of oil shock absorbers.

Read also: What are coilovers and how do they work.

What are gas-oil shock absorbers

As mentioned above, gas and gas-oil shock absorbers are essentially the same thing, the only difference is in the design. The gas-oil shock absorber uses two chambers, a cylinder within a cylinder. When compressed, the oil flows from the inner chamber to the outer one, where it rests against a partition, behind which there is a gas chamber. This achieves some compromise between the features of a gas and oil shock absorber.

The advantages and disadvantages of gas-oil shock absorbers are identical to those of oil and gas shock absorbers, the only difference is that they are much less pronounced in gas-oil shock absorbers:

nitrogen pressure is several times less than in gas ones, due to which they are much softer, but at the same time harder than oil ones;
the price of gas-oil shock absorbers is most often something in between - cheaper than gas shock absorbers, more expensive than hydraulic ones;
are subject to performance degradation due to temperature changes, although to a lesser extent than completely oil shock absorbers.

Read also: What is air suspension, its device and principle of operation.

Which shock absorbers are better and in what cases

If we are talking about using a car according to the most popular scenario such as "80% city and 20% country trips", then gas-oil shock absorbers are the golden mean. They provide good stability and control, and at the same time people in the car do not feel like riding a cart on a washboard. Nitrogen keeps the oil from boiling and gassing, so this design is quite hardy for rough roads and long trips.

Oil shock absorbers are especially good in poor road conditions or complete off-road conditions. That is, this is an unequivocal choice of people who live outside the city. Another argument in favor of this choice is the low price. Even against the background of a slightly shorter service life, this is a very profitable purchase.

And gas shock absorbers are the choice of uncompromising car owners who live in big cities with good roads and want to get maximum dynamics and controllability. Most often, such models are put on sports cars or tuned cars. Driving with high-quality gas shock absorbers is really like driving a sports car - the car is sensitive to the steering wheel and practically does not roll in corners.

There is also a “limited tuning” option, when gas shock absorbers are placed on the front wheels for better handling, and gas-oil shock absorbers on the rear wheels for greater softness. But the meaning of this mixing is rather doubtful, because the stiff front end perfectly transfers all the bumps to the cabin, and the softer rear dampers do little to improve the situation.

Read also: What is MacPherson, how it works and how it works.

Gas or oil - choose racks

Sooner or later, every motorist is faced with a problem - what shock absorbers to replace the used old ones. The domestic shock absorber market is so diverse that it is easy to get confused in the abundance of manufacturers. And driving a car with faulty racks is not only not pleasant, but even risky - the car becomes uncontrollable, does not hold well on the roadway, constantly leads to the side, and the efficiency of the braking system is noticeably reduced.

Yes, and what to do, there used to be conventional hydraulic (oil) shock absorbers, and work colleagues recommend installing modern ones - gas ones. Some domestic motorists prefer to change shock absorbers immediately after buying a new car. How expedient it is, which shock absorbers are better - gas or oil, or maybe there is an alternative to both - today we will figure it out with you, based on our own driving experience and expert advice.

Why are they needed at all?

This opinion is shared by some domestic motorists, arguing that shock absorbers are not needed, the main thing is springs. They, in their opinion, support the body of the car while driving, soften the effect on the car of all road irregularities. Yes, indeed, maintaining the body is the prerogative of the springs, and shock absorbers serve to reduce the amount of vibration of the springs and make them move smoothly. If only springs were installed on a car, then you would feel in the interior of such a car during even a slow movement, like a toy on a spring. In this case, the safety and good adhesion of the car's wheels to the road surface would simply have to be forgotten.

Hydraulic (oil) shock absorbers

Almost all passenger cars are equipped by domestic automakers with hydraulic (oil) shock absorbers. Let me remind you that earlier either friction or band shock absorbers were installed on cars.

Modern hydraulic struts are a double-acting system. It reduces the amplitude of suspension oscillations, both when it is fully compressed, and during its relaxation. This is achieved due to the oil, which, moving from one part of the shock absorber to another, takes on the resistance of the springs, thereby extinguishing their destructive force. The hydraulic shock absorber consists of a working cylinder, a rod with a piston, a compensation chamber, a guide sleeve and a damping fluid - oil.

The main disadvantage hydraulic struts is the presence of an air mixture in the compensation chamber. In the case when there is a low level of air in the chamber or it is absent at all, the effectiveness of the shock absorbers is zero. Otherwise, when there is too much air, the shock absorber will also not cope with its duties - it will simply fail (compress and decompress without resistance).

Also a negative feature of oil shock absorbers is their poor heat dissipation. During a long ride, due to poor cooling conditions, the oil in the shock absorbers overheats, thereby losing its binding properties, which means that the efficiency of the struts also decreases. When driving on poor quality roads, even at low speed, the car body begins to sway a little - this is not at all dangerous, more unpleasant.

It is not recommended to drive fast on bad roads in a car that is equipped with hydraulic struts. Due to the frequent and sharp movement of the piston, an intense field is created on its working surface, which contributes to the formation of cavitation bubbles - in a word, it can cause foaming oil.

In this case, the oil, mixing with air bubbles, turns into an emulsion, which leads to a decrease in the viscosity of the oil, as a result of which the shock absorber generally fails and ceases to cope with its duties.

To the benefits This type of shock absorbers can undoubtedly be attributed to their cost - the most affordable shock absorbers on the market, rather small in size, resistant to external negative factors.

Gas shock absorbers

A few years ago, soft hydraulics were replaced by modern gas-filled ones. They work harder, but they are more stable and have a longer service life.

Unlike their counterparts, the compensation chamber of these shock absorbers is filled not with ordinary air, but with gas that is pumped into it under very high pressure - up to 28 atmospheres. In addition to this, in order to isolate the gas from the oil, the chamber was separated by a special membrane. The use of this technology has reduced the likelihood of oily liquid foaming to a minimum - after all, the higher the pressure in the oil, the higher its binding properties and its boiling point.

Due to the high pressure, the shock absorber piston is always under pressure. This makes it possible to respond much faster to the shortcomings of domestic roads. Moreover, a single-tube shock absorber, unlike a hydraulic two-tube one, cools better, therefore, it works more stable and copes better with its duties.

Gas-filled shock absorbers are stiffer than oil-filled shock absorbers. Basically, they are equipped with cars of athletes and those motorists for whom a quiet ride is not to their liking.

Another advantage gas shock absorbers is the ability to install them in different directions (both horizontally and vertically, and at different angles of inclination). Recall that hydraulic installation in such positions is strictly prohibited.

To the disadvantages of gas-filled shock absorbers can be attributed to their rather high cost, complexity of production, less comfort and rather large loads on the car body. The latter feature negatively affects the condition of the body, reduces the strength of all metal parts, bearings and ball bearings fail faster.

Gas or oil?

Let's start with the fact that there are no bad and good shock absorbers. It all depends on the professional skills of the driver, the ability to maintain the car, its condition. And a lot depends on the condition of the road surface.

As experienced motorists say, each road has its own shock absorbers.

Each motorist, putting this or that model of shock absorbers, seeks to increase the comfort and controllability of the car. But be that as it may, these two indicators are opposite to each other - by improving one of them, we automatically worsen the other. Each car enthusiast has their own driving style and opinion on the level of comfort and stiffness of the suspension - the level of suspension stiffness that suits one driver may cause resentment in another.

Therefore, if familiar motorists stubbornly advise certain shock absorbers, saying that gas-filled struts are better than oil ones, you should not agree with them. Yes, indeed, they do a good job of their duties, but gas shock absorbers can show their advantages only during sports competitions. Looking at the driving style of “ordinary” motorists and the condition of our roads, hydraulic shock absorbers are what you need.

On the side of hydraulics is their cost— oil shock absorbers are an order of magnitude lower than gas-filled. As for gas shock absorbers, on their side, of course, the best level of control.

Imagine a picture - you eat and in front of your car, a pedestrian crosses the road. You, of course, slow down - the car stops a few centimeters from it. If your car had hydraulic struts, then the pedestrian was now somewhere in the area of \u200b\u200bthe rear axle. Unlike hydraulics, cars with gas-filled shock absorbers have shorter stopping distances. You should not put gas shock absorbers on old cars, in particular on domestic models - a year of driving on such shock absorbers will completely destroy it.

The article was written based on the materials of the sites: autowestnik.ru, avtonov.com, www.avtobeginner.ru.

Yes, and what to do, there used to be conventional hydraulic (oil) shock absorbers, and work colleagues recommend installing modern ones - gas ones. Some domestic motorists prefer to change shock absorbers immediately after buying a new car. How expedient it is, which shock absorbers are better - gas or oil, or maybe there is an alternative to both - today we will figure it out, based on our own driving experience and expert advice.

Why are they even needed...

Hydraulic (oil) shock absorbers

Almost all passenger cars are equipped by domestic automakers with hydraulic (oil) shock absorbers. Let me remind you that earlier either friction or band shock absorbers were installed on cars.

Also a negative feature of oil shock absorbers is their poor heat dissipation. During a long ride, due to poor cooling conditions, the oil in the shock absorbers overheats, thereby losing its binding properties, which means that the efficiency of the struts also decreases. When driving on poor quality roads, even at low speed, the car body begins to rock a little - this is not at all dangerous, more unpleasant.

Gas shock absorbers

A few years ago, soft hydraulics were replaced by modern - gas-filled ones. They work harder, but they are more stable and have a longer service life.

Gas-filled shock absorbers are stiffer than oil-filled shock absorbers. Basically, they are equipped with cars of athletes and those motorists for whom a quiet ride is not to their liking.

Gas or oil?

As experienced motorists say, each road has its own shock absorbers.

Each motorist, putting this or that model of shock absorbers, seeks to increase the comfort and controllability of the car. But be that as it may, these two indicators are opposite to each other - improving one of them, we automatically worsen the other. Each car enthusiast has their own driving style and opinion on the level of comfort and stiffness of the suspension - the level of suspension stiffness that suits one driver may cause resentment in another.

Therefore, if familiar motorists stubbornly advise certain shock absorbers, saying that gas-filled struts are better than oil ones, you should not agree with them. Yes, indeed, they do a good job of their duties, but gas shock absorbers can show their advantages only during sports competitions. Looking at the driving style of "ordinary" motorists and the condition of our roads - hydraulic shock absorbers are what you need.

On the side of hydraulics is their cost- oil shock absorbers are an order of magnitude lower than gas-filled ones. As for gas shock absorbers, on their side, of course, the best level of control.

So the choice is yours!