Warning Signs of Shocks and Struts

Shocks and struts are designed to help keep your tires on the road. They provide a comfortable ride by influencing the control and handling characteristics of your vehicle. Without them, a vehicle would bounce down the road, making driving extremely difficult. Shocks and struts do not require replacing at specific mileage intervals like filters or spark plugs, but they do wear out and eventually have to be replaced. It’s a good idea to have your car inspected by a professional Auto Body shop in Waukesha if you experience or see the following symptoms:

Leaking: You can find evidence of leaking by looking for oil or wetness on the outside of the shocks and struts.

Damage: You’ll want to look for things like a broken mount or badly dented housing.

Wear: One way to evaluate the wear is to consider how your vehicle has been handling and riding lately. Does it bounce excessively when driving on rough roads or after hitting a bump? Does the nose dip when braking? Does the body roll or sway excessively when cornering or driving in crosswinds? Does the suspension bottom out when backing out of the driveway or when hauling extra passengers or weight?

Bouncing: A “bounce test” is still a valid means of checking the dampening ability of shocks and struts. At each corner of the car, push down hard, and then watch what happens. If the suspension continues to gyrate more than one or two times after rocking and releasing the bumper or body, your shocks or struts are showing their age and should be replaced. Replacing worn shocks can help your vehicle stop quicker while braking, decrease the risk of skidding on wet or slick surfaces, increase gas mileage, increase the life of your expensive tires, and increase the life of your suspension.

So if you are sick of all the bouncing and rocking, come to our Waukesha Auto Parts shop today so we can firm up your suspension and restore proper ride control!