You’ll know it when the shocks or struts need to be replaced – they’ll tell you by the excessive bounce and sway you’ll begin to feel when you’re driving. Shocks and struts are a very important part of your vehicle’s suspension system. They do much more than give you a smooth ride. Since they are designed to keep your vehicle’s tires in contact with the road, bad struts or shocks can actually create a driving hazard. In this blog post, I’ll tell you a little bit about struts and shocks and how you can maintain them.
Your car, truck or van is equipped with either shocks or struts, never both. They are located above each wheel and are responsible for dampening the movement of the spring, while also stopping back and forth and bouncing movements. If your vehicle has struts, you can’t replace them with a shock absorber. The same applies to a worn shock absorber. The differentiation between the two is that a strut is a structural part of a vehicle’s suspension system while a shock absorber is not.
A strut does more than dampen the movement of the spring. It is also important to wheel alignment, and is a pivot point for the steering system in your car. When replacing struts, you will need to have a wheel alignment done, too. Shock absorbers are much different. They are installed between the frame of your vehicle and each wheel. They work along with the springs to compensate for irregularities in the road surface. The springs maintain the suspension system at a predetermined height and support added weight without excessive sagging. As you drive, the spring generates energy that is transferred back to the shock absorber to lessen vibrations, bumps and swaying motions.
A worn shock or strut can cause safety issues with your vehicle. In fact, a worn shock or strut will lengthen the distance you need to stop. You may notice more bounce, roll and sway in the body. It may also affect your ability to turn corners safely. You may even find that your tires wear more quickly and that you spend more at the gas pump. If you notice any of these symptoms, our certified auto technicians at Country Road Automotive in Lincoln Park, New Jersey, can assist you.
Suspension and steering systems are relatively dependable and trouble-free; however, like any other component, they must be maintained to keep them from creating problems. Here’s what you can do to maintain your vehicle’s suspension and steering system.
- Lubricate the ball joints, tie-rod ends and other parts of the steering system.
- Periodically check the level and condition of the power steering fluid. If you have to add fluid, there’s a problem. Give us a call to have your steering system checked out.
- Regularly rotate the tires and inspect the steering and suspension systems.
- Have a wheel alignment performed on a regular schedule.
When it comes to your shocks and struts, they should be replaced about every 50,000 miles. If your vehicle is equipped with shocks and one or more needs to be replaced, you should have all four replaced to make sure the wheels are evened out. Not sure if your shocks or struts need to be replaced? Schedule an appointment in our auto repair shop in Lincoln Park, NJ, and one of our mechanics can take a look. Click here to schedule your appointment now.