A6. S6; w/Air Suspension; Left. A shock absorber is a device that controls the spring oscillations when the vehicle goes over various road irregularities, so the vehicle's tires remain in contact with the road. In some cases, shock absorbers have a secondary function as a suspension limiter to prevent the suspension from either over-extending and/or over-compressing. Air Suspension. Suspension Strut and Coil Spring Assembly. Absorber. and Coil Spring Assembly. Damper.