Method and apparatus for testing shock absorbers and the like

A transducer for placement in fixed relation to the axle/wheel assembly of a vehicle and adjacent to the body of the vehicle, the transducer including an antenna plate which in cooperation with the vehicle body forms a capacitance. The magnitude of the capacitance varies in response to variations in distance between the vehicle body and the antenna plate when the body is caused to experience oscillation on the springs thereof. Such oscillation is damped by the vehicle shock absorbers. The transducer includes a guard or shield which shields the antenna from significant capacitive reactance with respect to ground. An oscillator circuit wherein the frequency of oscillation is determined by the above mentioned capacitance, the oscillator circuit having a non-ground common to which the guard is connected. A method for testing shock absorbers by employment of the transducer and oscillator circuit which includes the steps of displacing the vehicle from a quiescent position to load the springs in the vehicle, releasing the vehicle body so that it can return to the quiescent position and measuring the time variation of the capacitance as the vehicle body vibrationally returns to the quiescent condition so as to afford an objective evaluation of the damping action of the vehicle shock absorbers.