Is it time to replace your shocks or struts?

When it comes to vehicle safety, excessive bouncing and swaying is not a good thing. In fact, it can be quite dangerous. If you are experiencing these types of symptoms while driving, more than likely, your shocks or struts may have something to do with it. You may not know it, but shocks and struts do more than provide a smooth ride. They are an integral part of keeping your tires on the road, so when they begin to wear out, vehicle and passenger safety becomes compromised.

If you take a look at the underside of your vehicle, you will see some very large springs over each wheel. Those springs are part of the suspension system, and are designed to absorb the impact as your vehicle’s tires roll over the road. Without a shock or strut, the energy stored in the spring would begin to cause major bouncing and swaying as you drive down the road. The shocks and struts absorb that energy so you have a smooth ride.

One thing to note is that your vehicle either has struts or shocks, never both. The difference between the two is that a strut is part of the suspension system while a shock is not. Here’s more information on each:

• Struts – Mounted to the chassis, the struts not only lessen the movement of the springs, they are a vital part of wheel alignment and act as a pivot point for the steering system. That’s why a wheel alignment needs to be done when the struts are replaced.
• Shock Absorbers – Though they are equally vital to driving safety, a shock absorber is responsible for absorbing the energy generated by the springs. When they begin to wear out, you will start to notice more of the road vibrations along with excessive swaying and bumping.

As mentioned, shock absorbers or struts that have worn out can cause a serious safety risk. Not only will you notice more bouncing, bumping and swaying while you drive, it will take you longer to stop your vehicle. It will also become more difficult to safely turn corners. In addition to the serious safety concerns, the car tires will wear out fast and you will spend more when you fill up the tank.

Very often a shock or a strut will leak a small amount of oil over many miles and long before they are bouncing they will become very harsh.  If you hit a seemingly innocuous bump or cement crack and instead of slowly absorbing the impact, the strut slams feeling like it’s going to take the filings out of you teeth, mention it to your technician or shop. Often times, the lack of oil leaking fools the technician into thinking all is well.  While you might experience it every day, our technicians may not feel it since we won’t take overly long test drives unless we’re looking for a symptom.

If you notice any of the signs identified above, have the certified automotive technicians at Shade Tree Garage take a look at your vehicle’s suspension system.

How to Properly Maintain the Suspension System

Just like any other vehicle component, the suspension and steering systems require periodic maintenance to work properly:

1. Lubrication – The ball joints, tie-rod ends and other parts of the steering system should be well-lubricated. With regular maintenance in our shop, we will let you know when these parts need to be lubricated.
2. Power Steering Fluid – Just like other vital engine fluids, check the power steering fluid each month to make sure there’s enough fluid and it is in good condition. An important factor to note: If you have to add steering fluid, there’s a problem with the steering system that requires repair.
3. Tire Rotations – Have them done regularly. When you do, have the steering and suspensions systems checked.
4. Wheel Alignments – Don’t neglect having wheel alignments done, especially if you hit a curb, ditch or pothole.
5. Replace Shocks or Struts – The shock absorbers or struts should be replaced about every 50,000 miles. Ask us about the particulars for your vehicle. One last note, if your vehicle is equipped with shocks, you will need to replace all four of them at the same time.

Need new shocks or struts? Click here to schedule an appointment with Shade Tree Garage in Morristown, New Jersey.