These parts tend to get really dirty so it can be difficult to tell if you don’t have experience in this area. If you see what looks like dirty oil on the struts or shocks or if the whole area just looks wet (when it isn’t raining), it’s probably time to replace them. How do you know that these important parts need to be replaced other than by mileage? Here are 5 signs that your shocks or struts are worn out… Sign #1: The Shocks or Struts are LeakingĪll it takes is a flashlight to discover this tell-tale sign. If in doubt, you can ask a qualified technician, such as a member of the team here at My Mechanic. An easy way to tell is struts have a spring around the top, shocks do not. How do you know if your car has shocks or struts? Your owner’s manual will tell you, or you can get down and look under the wheels. You feel far less of the dips, bumps, potholes and speed bumps, which enables you to maintain control of the vehicle. Shock absorbers, commonly just called shocks, do what their name implies: They absorb the bounce and “shock” of the road. While they do act like shock absorbers, they are vital when it comes to the car’s wheel alignment and they help keep the tires firmly planted on the road. Struts are a crucial part of your steering and suspension system. Some cars and light trucks have struts on all four wheels or even shocks all the way around, but chances are that you have two of each. In many cases, you will have struts on the front and shocks on the rear of your car or SUV. How do you know when you need new shocks or struts?įirst, here a quick lesson about what shocks and struts are, as well as the difference between them. You might need to replacement them as early as 50,000 miles, depending on your driving habits, the amount of weight you carry, and even the manufacturer’s original equipment (some shocks/struts are better made than others). That 100K, by the way, is only an estimate. When you consider that these important parts can last as long as 100,000 miles, they are easy to forget. Most people never give a second thought to the shocks or struts on their vehicles, and that’s understandable. Have you ever been driving down the freeway and you can’t help but notice that the back end of one of the cars in front of you is swaying back and forth or up and down like a salsa dancer?
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