Shock absorbers, or shocks for short, help soften a vehicles handling as it rides down the street. There are bumps and potholes that can shake our vehicle as we drive. Shock absorbers allow the vehicle to smoothly travel over these bumps without there being a rough force applied to the vehicle. In a sense, the shock absorbers work as springs that allow the tires of the vehicle to move freely with the bumps while the vehicle essentially remains unaffected by the bumps, and thus remains still.
The simplest way to explain the process of how shock absorbers work is that they transfer the kinetic energy that is produced from an uneven ride. There are several different types of shock absorbers that transfer the energy in different ways. In some shock absorbers, the energy is turned into heat inside the shocks viscous fluid. Others will release the heat through an exhaust into the atmosphere. Electromagnetic shock absorbers can store the energy and use it later.
Shock absorbers are placed in all forms of automobiles. Any vehicle that is to travel over any form of rough terrain will have shock absorbers to help lessen discomfort and create a smoother ride. Shock absorbers can even be applied to buildings and bridges to help the structure through earthquakes. The typical shock absorber consists of springs and torsion bars. A torsion bar is a metal rod that is attached to the chassis of a vehicle at one end and attached to the axle, spindle or suspension arm at the other end. There are several uses for the torsion bar besides just to help with shock absorption. Shock absorbers also help to level a vehicle.
Some of the main manufacturers of shock absorbers are Koni, KYB, Bilstein, and Boge. There are plenty of sources around that give all the information necessary to gain a better understanding of shock absorbers. They are important for our comfort and enjoyment of a smoother, more efficient ride.

For more info search KYB Shocks or http://www.shox.com