Automotive Shock Absorber Fluids
The shock absorber system is among the most critical components in automotive applications for ensuring safe vehicle operation and optimum vehicle performance. This is because aspects such as handling and braking are directly influenced by the performance of the shock absorber. Depending on the type of automotive application, different shock absorber designs can be considered:
Twin-tube shock absorbers
Currently the most common passive shock absorber design for passenger vehicles, twin-tube shock absorbers have an inner and outer cylinder. The inner cylinder houses the piston and shock absorber fluid, whereas the outer cylinder offers a reservoir for the fluid and, typically in addition, pressurized nitrogen gas. This additional gas pressure helps to reduce unwanted aeration in the shock absorber fluid that can cause unwanted deviations in damping forces. When the vehicle encounters differences in road surfaces, the energy is transferred from the tires to the piston, which undergoes motions known as compression and rebound. The operation of the piston causes the fluid to be driven between the inner and outer cylinders, which in combination with other component parameters such as the valve settings, delivers the desired damping forces and absorbs the impact, i.e. shock of the road surface irregularities.
Monotube shock absorbers
Monotube shock absorbers, in some respects a technological improvement upon the twin-tube shock absorber, consist of only one tube, which houses two separate pistons known as the working piston and floating piston. The floating, or dividing piston essentially performs the role of the compression valve in the monotube design. These pistons also completely separate the shock absorber fluid and gas inside the cylinder, the latter of which is typically under much higher pressure compared to twin-tube applications. While the design results in a generally larger shock absorber unit, making it difficult to mount in many small passenger vehicles, it has the advantage of being able to generally deliver much more significant damping forces than twin-tube shock absorbers, making it useful in heavy duty applications. Moreover, in contrast to the twin-tube shock absorber, the monotube shock absorber can be mounted in different configurations, including sideways or upside down. This is an additional reason that also makes it suitable in many automotive racing applications.
Shock absorber designs and fluid requirements
In addition to the described twin-tube and monotube designs, shock absorber technology has been continually advancing, and a large array of designs is now widely available, with examples of tri-tube dampers to electronically controlled active suspension systems. This is, in some senses, a natural result of increasingly severe driving requirements, as vehicles become both heavier and more powerful. This also means that the shock absorber fluid must be able to fulfill such requirements, which in addition to the basic principles of lubrication and cooling, also includes:
- Delivering consistent damping forces throughout damper lifetime
- Preventing component wear while maintaining low friction
- Protecting the damper from corrosion and contamination
TITAN SAF Shock Absorber Fluids
TITAN SAF shock absorber fluids are formulated to fulfill the most stringent shock absorber requirements today. Our TITAN SAF products set the global standard though highest quality and maximum flexibility, which has been tirelessly developed over decades of advanced research and development in the field of shock absorber fluids. This, in addition to our global customer support network, is the principal reason why FUCHS sets the global standard in the global SAF market.
Wherever you are in the world, you will receive one guaranteed SAF product quality.
