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Beware the danger of driving with worn shocks
Worn shock absorbers seriously
compromise a car’s handling and
safety on the road. But because shock
absorbers wear out gradually, motorists
often adjust unconsciously to the change
in their vehicle’s handling, unaware of the
danger they’re in due to the efficiency of
vital components being compromised.
“It’s essential that motorists be aware
of how dangerous worn shocks can
be and familiarise themselves with
the signs that their car’s shocks may
be due for replacement,” says Les
McMaster, chairman of the Motor
Industry Workshop Association (MIWA.)
Independent research on the extent to
which worn shock absorbers impacts
on a vehicle’s safety shows that they
compromise the driver’s ability to stop,
steer and maintain vehicle stability. “In
fact it takes 2.6 metres longer to stop
from a speed of 80 km/h on a straight
road with only one driver in the car and
it takes 11.3 metres longer to stop when
fully loaded and travelling on a straight
road with an uneven surface from a speed
of 70 km/h.”
➲ Les McMaster, chairman of MIWA
Among the signs that a car’s shock
absorbers could be worn are steering
wheel vibrations, oil leakage, irregular and
increased tyre wear as well as steering that
will not centre by itself. However McMaster
also cautions against opting for replacing
your worn shocks with cheap - and unsafe
- shock absorbers. Independent tests
have proved that certain cheap, imported
shocks are extremely dangerous because
they aren’t built robustly, the quality of
the oil is inferior, they fail the fatigue test,
lack flexibility and are often incorrectly
assembled. “Quality is vital in this critical
component of a vehicle. It’s best not to
scrimp on this essential part of driving a
roadworthy vehicle.
Ensure that you have your shocks checked
and fitted at a reputable MIWA service
provider and when necessary, insist to
have them replaced by a trusted brand,”
McMaster concludes.
Neil Tovey scores with Cross Country Motor Racing
Neil Tovey, football commentator
and former Bafana Bafana captain
and coach, took his place in the
navigating hot seat in the recent
Donaldson Cross Country Motor
Racing event in Malelane, near the
Kruger National Park.
opportunity to spend a weekend
with the Regent Racing team.
Her prize included a ‘Hot Seat
Run’ in a Dakar-spec vehicle
with Terence Marsh, as well as
spending time with Neil Tovey.
Tovey was invited to participate
by Imperial Auto, which is one of
the lead sponsors of the Regent
Racing team. Tovey navigated for
seasoned motor-racing professional
Terence Marsh, who met with him
prior to the event to brief him on
the expected conditions of the race and
how the partnership between driver and
navigator works.
“I was blown away by the immense
power of the tough, customised Nissan
Navara V8 race cars when we took
them around the Kyalami agricultural
holdings, but that was tame compared
to the pace and rigours of the actual
race,” Tovey says.
She and her partner also had
access to the Regent Racing
entertainment area on both days of
the event.
“This sport requires immense mental
stamina and concentration, because
you’re in the car driving at high speed
through unfamiliar territory, often over
rocks and other hazards, and you’ve got
to stay in the zone all the time.”
Someone else who had a wonderful time
at the event was Imaan Suliman, who
won a dream weekend with Imperial
Auto in a Facebook competition, with the
| Wheels in Action
78
july 2014
“I have always been a fan of fast
cars, so winning a competition of
this magnitude was an incredible
experience,” says Suliman. “One always
knows that there is a lot of technical knowhow behind the scenes in motor sport, so
to see and experience it first-hand was
incredible.
It was amazing to see how fast the team
has to work to ensure that all the cars are
in optimal shape, and I was impressed by
the professionalism and approachability of
the Regent Racing team.”