10 December 2019
Win Win! You can grow your business and at the same time provide your customers with safer vehicles
Grow your business
Did you know the industry average is to replace shock absorbers on 8 out of every 100 vehicles inspected?. That’s a replacement rate of 8%. Did you also know that some workshops are only replacing shock absorbers on 1 out of every 100 vehicles inspected? That’s a replacement rate of only 1%. This could equate to almost $44,000 in lost income per year*. (*Based on industry averages as at 2017 within Australia)
Provide your customers with safer vehicles
When servicing your customers' vehicles it is important that all workshops carry out the five step shock absorber inspection method to identify whether shocks or struts need replacing.
- Visual inspection - Check for shock absorber leaks and abnormal tyre wear.
- Vehicle ride test - A quick drive in the vehicle will allow you to note any noises, vibrations, steering, stopping or stability issues.
- Bounce test - Push down on each corner of the vehicle’s body. When you release, count the number of times the vehicle rebounds. For unworn shocks the vehicle's movement should stop between one and one and a half oscillations.
- Kilometre check - This is a surefire way to alert you to worn shocks. Each shock on average activates between 5,000 and 8,000 cycles per kilometre. This means that by the time the shock absorbers have reached the recommended 80,000 km replacement, they have completed between 400 and 600 million cycles.
- Electronic suspension testers - Some workshops invest in electronic suspension testers to speed up the testing process and to help provide their customers with that extra peace of mind.
Educate your customers
Shock absorbers are an integral component of the suspension system, and their wear has a significant impact on the safety of your customers' vehicles. Worn shock absorbers can affect how the wheels stay in contact with the road, causing dangerous swaying, hydroplaning, deteriorated performance and compromised road handling and emergency stopping.
New shock absorbers provide the vehicle with improved vehicle control, including:
- Reduced emergency stopping distances - Did you know one worn shock absorber can increase your emergency stopping distance at 50 km/h by up to 2 metres? Replacing worn shocks could save your customers from experiencing unfortunate and unwanted incidents.
- Longer tyre life - Worn shock absorbers can significantly increase tyre wear, handling control and tyre grip, meaning your customer may need to purchase costly new tyres sooner rather than later.
- Increased stability - Worn shock absorbers can cause your tyres to lose contact with the road, dramatically affecting steering. Worn shocks can also cause excessive sway around corners and sliding or veering across lanes, making the car a lot less stable. This can be dangerous, especially in bad weather.
Customers may only realise their shocks need replacing when something has already gone wrong and it's too late. By keeping your customers informed and making sure their worn shock absorbers are replaced, you’re on the road to ensuring a better and safer driving experience for your customers.
Choose the right product for the vehicle, built to last by a brand you can trust – Monroe.
