Underdamping

Underdamping is a problem that occurs when the shock absorbers or struts are not matched to the springs. An underdamped car will show different sorts of misbehavior depending on how badly the parts are mismatched. In extreme cases, a car may bounce violently when driven over rough roads. Less underdamped cars may feel as though they are floating rather than solidly connected to the ground, or have the suspension wobble two or three times when the car hits a bump. The car may pitch violently forward when you apply the brakes, rock back and forth when you shift gears, or lean more quickly when going into a corner. Other symptoms can include handling that simply feels vague and sloppy, or bottoming out on speed bumps that the car looks ...

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