The shocking truth
when off the beaten track in New Zeala Zealand. Such rapid movement generat generates considerable heat, which can quicklyqui render a sub-standard shock absorbera ineffective.
Skorc Skorched4’s are accurately valved to contr control springs under off-road conditio conditions, minimising unnecessary movem movement and providing the driver with sure-footedsur control. KYB employs a four-step top seal to keep dirt and other foreign matter out and KYB incorporate increased diameter bodies and 16mm piston rods to maximise oil volume in the working cylinder. Greater oil volume results in slower heat build up, thereby extending shock absorber life.
Their velocity-sensitive valving is a perfect combination for both original equipment and aftermarket coil and leaf springs, further improving handling with reduced nose diving under braking, flatter cornering, added towing benefits and a more precise feel, both on and off the road.
For further information on the ever-widening range of KYB shock absorbers call Stocks on the 0800 786 257 free phone call centre. Modern vehicle safety systems have been long been credited with reducing injury accidents and deaths on the road through innovations such as anti-skid braking (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC) systems.
The effectiveness of such features was highlighted in July 2014 by the Government announcing that ESC would become mandatory on all new light passenger vehicles entering the fleet from July 1 2015, and progressively all light vehicles inspected at the border from March 2020 on.
Research indicates ESC can reduce the risk of crashing due to loss of control by around 30 percent.
“ESC has been described by the New Zealand Automobile Association and many road-safety experts as the most significant advance in vehicle safety since the seatbelt” then Associate Transport Minister Michael Woodhouse said. The minister‘s office predicted the rule will save more than 400 lives and prevent nearly 2000 serious injuries over the next 20 years.
What is not as well-known is the reliance on related parts for these safety systems to function properly, particularly tyres, brakes and shock absorbers. While it might be obvious for brakes and tyres to be in good operating order, less obvious is the critical role that shocks absorbers play in the efficient performance of ABS and ESC.
Autolign, the country’s largest steering and suspension specialist, has attempted to highlight this fact for several years, citing independent testing results from the likes of European testing giants TUV and CITA on the effects of worn shocks on things such as handling and stopping distance.
TUV Germany conducted a series of tests on vehicles fitted with 50 percent equivalent worn shocks and equipped with ABS and ESC, involving a lane change at 80km/h on a rough road.
The test data revealed braking distances of more than six metres longer, or 20 percent extra, than vehicles with 100 percent efficient shocks. More worryingly, it was also three metres more than those with worn shocks, but without the ABS and ESC features.
The modern safety systems actually made the vehicles worse than those without them, due to the deficiency of the shocks controlling the contact between the tyre and road surface, of which these systems rely on less fluctuations to perform efficiently.
Autolign is confident the market and regulatory authority will gradually become mindful of the important role shocks have in modern vehicles. It is also well placed to service the market due to the comprehensive coverage it has for New Zealand’s diverse fleet. Offering seven different brands of shock absorber it has the widest range in the country, ensuring the greatest possible supply rate to its installer and reseller network.
Being a steering and suspension specialist means Autolign not only offer shock absorbers but also the most extensive range of steering parts, urethane and rubber bushes, coils springs, and other related components.
They also operate a specialist service department, Racelign, which can fabricate and upgrade shocks absorbers, as well as manufacture hard-to-find engine mounts, transmissions mounts and other suspension bushes. Autolign maintains an 11-branch network around the country, including Auckland-based Racelign.