What would happen if a car only had springs but no shock absorbers?

Release time：

2025-08-12

There's a reason why cars don't shake or bounce when driving. Why? We know that springs buffer ground impact, while shock absorbers provide a buffering effect. Simply put, a car's shock absorbers prevent the springs from bouncing too quickly.

How it works: The shock absorber is filled with oil. The top of the shock absorber's piston has one or more rotating holes. As the shock absorber moves up and down, the oil in the waveguide flows back and forth between the upper and lower chambers through the small circular holes on the piston's top. Because the oil is viscous, it also releases a lot of heat, effectively converting the mechanical energy generated by the car's rough roads into energy.

Shock absorbers can't exist in isolation; springs also need a way to contain their elastic energy. Therefore, both are essential; without shock absorbers, the car will bounce while driving.