Any suspension of a modern car is equipped with special damping devices - shock absorbers. In their lower part they rest against the suspension elements, and at the top - on a special support that is built into the body or frame. Shock absorber mounts may also be referred to as shock strut mounts. In English they are designated by the phrase Shock Absorber Mount. Naturally, the shock absorber and its strut are different objects in terms of their functionality, but it is worth focusing on the supports. When driving on uneven surfaces, the vehicle is forced to take strong mechanical shocks and undergo vibrations, however, with the help of shock absorbers, driving on bad roads is softened and becomes safer and more comfortable. The design of any shock absorber cannot do without appropriate supports, because they are responsible for the interaction of the device with the car.
Why do you need a support bearing?
The question of why a support bearing is needed is asked by many novice car enthusiasts, but before you figure it out, you need to understand how shock absorber struts work and are installed. Shock absorbers in a car are designed to ensure a smooth ride, smooth out shocks and vibrations when driving on uneven roads, bumps and potholes. On front-wheel drive cars, the struts are attached to the body at the top, to the so-called “glasses”, and at the bottom they are connected to the steering knuckles. The support bearing (PU) is often called the upper shock absorber support; this generally simple device plays a very important role in the suspension of the car, and if it is faulty, it will become difficult to drive the car. It is necessary to monitor the condition of the supports and replace them in a timely manner - we must not forget that traffic safety depends on them.
A typical OP consists of three parts:
- an upper metal plate with fasteners (most often these are three studs);
- lower base;
- directly to the bearing itself.
The lower and upper plates are rigidly connected to each other, the bearing itself is usually pressed into the body of the support, and the design options for the OP can be different; each automaker uses its own design solutions. With the help of a support, the shock absorber strut is fixed to the body; due to the OP, the shock absorber rotates smoothly relative to the body, with no play.
