As more and more people become conscious of the environment, there has been a demand for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and electric cars are at the frontier. However, despite their surge in popularity, there are still numerous components that are shared between conventionally powered vehicles, electric cars and the hybrid type. These parts include steering components, wheels and tyres, brakes and suspension systems.
In modern cats, most systems are controlled by sophisticated onboard computers that constantly monitor and assess driving conditions. They also work in tandem with other components in real-time to ascertain optimal performance and safety. For example, electronic stability control (ECS), is a system that utilizes electronic sensors to detect skidding and intervene by applying brakes to prevent the possible loss of control.
What Causes Skidding?
Most severe auto accidents happen when the car is being driven at a speed that exceeds the conditions and as well as its traction limits. This leads to two types of dangerous situations: understeer and oversteer. The latter occurs when the vehicle’s rear tries to overtake the front, causing the car to spin around. The former occurs when the front wheels cannot effectively turn, causing the car to move straight forward despite attempts to steer.
What is the Role of the ESC?
The ESC is known to be up to 80% effective in preventing skidding. It works by sensing when the car is leaning too far or when the tyres lose traction. The ESC is capable of instantly reducing engine speed and applying the brake on a specific wheel, sufficient enough to ensure the vehicle stays under control.
Even so, the electronic stability control’s effectiveness is limited by the condition of the tyres and suspension system. When working to avoid a potential skid, the ECS relies on the assumption that the vehicle’s tyres and suspension system are in good condition. However, if it sends a signal to apply a brake on a specific wheel, but it is worn or damaged, the car may not have enough grip to respond effectively. In such a situation, the corrective measure may not be sufficient to prevent a dangerous skid. That’s why it is important to monitor and maintain tyres on a regular basis.
How do Shock Absorbers Work?
Shock absorbers are vital for keeping tyres in optimal contact with the road. The more contact area a tire has with the ground, the better the traction it can provide, which is essential for safe steering and braking. As the car’s coil springs compress to absorb impacts from bumps on the road, the shock absorbers help to maintain the tires’ contact with the road by allowing the spring to smoothly extend back to its level ride height. High-quality coil strings such as Koni coilovers will have a big impact on a car’s comfort and stability.
Similar to worn-out tyres, if the ESC sends a signal to apply the brake to a specific wheel if the shock absorbers are damaged, the car may also not have the necessary traction to prevent skidding.
As with any other vehicle component, the shock absorbers will slowly deteriorate, taking a toll on their performance. That’s because the hydraulic oil used in shock absorbers goes through valves inside the component as it compresses and extends, leading to wear and tear. In fact, the oil can pass through these valves up to 400 times per mile, causing them to gradually weaken and let more oil through with each movement. This results in a decrease in fluid resistance, reducing the shock absorbers’ ability to absorb the impacts from the vehicle’s coil springs. As a result, the vehicle may not be as firm and may not handle as well as it did when it was new.
That said, it is imperative that you check and replace shock absorbers are necessary to ensure optimal performance and safety at all times.
