London is the capital of England, the largest city in England and the United Kingdom, and is termed to be one of the most important cities in the world, yet the city of London, with boundaries closely based on its original medieval limits, is an area only 1.12 square miles.

London exerts a powerful impact on art and culture, tourism, innovation and industry; it’s also one of the most expensive places to visit or to live.

Greater London, the ceremonial county within the London region, has a population of over 8.8million, covers 606 square miles, and is organised into 33 local districts and also the 32 London boroughs. Its famous points of interest, attractions to visit and historical landmarks are too many to list; it is the home of UK Parliament and the Royal Family, as well as to cultures speaking over 300 languages and the busiest city airport system in the world, seeing its also the most visited city in the world (as measured by international arrivals).

The most popular cars in Central London

Given their worldwide popularity, multipurpose appeal and agility to make light work of cutting through the London traffic, it’s no great surprise to hear that the VW Golf is estimated to be the most popular car in London, according to data provided between 2012 to 2018 by ownership and postcode.

Close on its heels—and in order of popularity—are the Mercedes A-Class, the new Audi A3, BMW 3 Series and the F-Type Jaguar Convertible. Needless to say, Western Central London is one of the more affluent areas of Greater London.

Vehicle numbers in London

There are approximately 4.4 million licensed vehicles in the Greater London area, with some of the most popular models including the Nissan Qashqai, Ford Fiesta and the Kia Sportage.

Find a Fixter garage in London today

There are a total of 124 Fixter garages in the London area, all ready and waiting to provide you with a fantastic quote for your car service, MOT and a wide range of vehicle repairs.

Fixter garages service the following postcodes and more, in and around the London area:

• EC & WC: Central London
• N & NW: North and North West London
• E: East London
• SE & SW: South East and South West London

Front shock absorber replacement

What does a front shock absorber do?

Your shock absorbers are part of the suspension system that smoothes out the bumpiness of an uneven road to provide you with a comfortable ride.

A shock absorber is a gas or oil filled tube that is compressed by a piston to dissipate kinetic energy and regulate the rebounding your car will suffer when driving over potholed, bumpy or uneven ground.

What happens when we replace your shock absorbers?

• Our efficient and fully qualified mechanics will examine or test-drive your car to establish the cause of the problem.
• Wherever required, a shock absorber will be replaced, and you’ll be advised of any other connected or associated problems arising from its malfunction.
• You will also be advised of any other parts that may need to be replaced for the best operation and health of your vehicle.
• Once the faulty shock absorber has been replaced, our mechanics will test it thoroughly to ensure the correct running of the new part and make any adjustments required for its premium operation.

What causes a shock absorber to stop working correctly?

A shock absorber will fail to operate correctly if the fluid leaks. This can be due to poor or damaged seals.

A shock absorber will also fail to function properly if it becomes damaged, bent or broken due to continual wear, general use or accident damage.

Smaller internal parts are likely to wear out in time and cause the improper operation of the complete component.

Symptoms of a malfunctioning front shock absorber

Excessive bouncing and an uncomfortable ride

If your car is bouncing excessively and providing uncomfortable ride quality, then there’s a good chance your shock absorbers aren’t operating correctly.

The car feels unstable

When driving around corners or over uneven ground and the car feels unstable then your suspension could be damaged.

Driving over humps is difficult

If driving over humps, sleeping policemen or raised road elements causes problems, your shock absorbers could be damaged.

If you spot signs of leaking

If you notice puddles of oil-like fluid on the road around your wheels, your shock absorbers could be leaking.

If your wheels leave the ground

In circumstances when your tyres lose contact with the road going over bumpy surfaces, sharp bridges or raised ground, your suspension isn’t working properly.

How often should shock absorbers need replacing?

You can expect shock absorbers to last at least 50k miles. Your owner’s manual may specify a different mileage or duration, as this figure is only a guideline. You should also have your shock absorbers checked after heavy contact with potholes, curbs or large rocks in the road.

The law, vehicle regulations and your MOT

Car suspension is a common reason for MOT failures. Broken or faulty shock absorbers, including oil leaks, will be a definite fail for an MOT.

The cost of replacing your front shock absorber

The typical cost of replacing a condenser varies between £200 and £250.

For example, an Audi A1 S Line would have a dealer price of £255.23, yet Fixter will carry out the same work for only £206—a 19% saving!

Changing the front shock absorber in a Fiat 500l Pop Star will cost you £268.06 with your dealer, but only £216.00 with Fixter—another superb saving of 19%!

When you choose Fixter to find you a great deal and a premium mechanic to carry out your front shock absorber replacement, you can expect to save around £40 from an average dealer price. That’s a typical saving in the region of 15–20%.

Symptoms of a malfunctioning shock absorber

If your car is providing uncomfortable ride quality and is bouncing excessively, it could be that your shock absorbers aren’t operating correctly. Also, any puddles of oil-like fluid on the road around your wheels could be escaping from leaking shock absorbers.