Imagine this for a moment. When cars were first made they had no shock absorbers and no suspension system. They were basically a wagon with an engine and it was seriously rough on the kidneys and back when you hit a bump in the road.
We have come a long way since then; in the last 100 years we have seen suspension systems improve to the point where bumps in the road are not even noticed in many luxury sedans.
You might be interested to know that the purpose of the shock absorber is to dampen spring oscillations, or to absorb excess energy in the springs, thus making the springs last longer and be more effective. In most cars today, there is a combination of springs and hydraulic shock absorbers.
The most commonly used shock absorbers are either dry friction, solid state or the most common, the fluid friction. You can find the shock absorbers down by the brakes and wheels and they are a fairly easy maintenance job if you are considering replacing them yourself. A couple bolts, a little elbow grease, and you are good to go.
Trucks are notoriously less smooth in their ride because of uni-body construction, which gives a rougher ride but which allows for more cargo capacity. No matter what type of shocks you use in a truck, a certain amount of rough ride should be expected.
As with all replacement parts, going to a salvage yard is your best bet. Sure, some parts are hard to replace, like a transmission or engine. However, parts like shock absorbers, or radiators, windshields or fuel pumps, are relatively easy to replace. In that case, why not save money and do the work yourself?
Remember, with most reliable salvage yards, the parts you purchase are guaranteed and come with a warranty. You can buy with confidence and you can save upwards of 50% on any purchase. New aftermarket parts are just too expensive, and paying a mechanic $50 per hour to replace your shock absorbers, is ridiculous. It takes an hour max and you can have hundreds by doing it yourself.
So there you have it! Be grateful for those hydraulic shock absorbers. Your kidneys are thankful, your back is thankful, heck your whole darn body is thankful. Today you can ride in comfort and it is all because of the wonderful shock absorbers. Check yours today so you have a smooth summer.