SIGNS OF WORN SHOCKS

A key part of your vehicle’s suspension system, shocks and struts help keep your vehicle’s tyres in contact with the road. If your car doesn’t maintain firm contact with the road, steering, handling and braking can all be affected. Quality ride control products perform many vital functions:

• Control excessive body and tyre movement
• Reduce vehicle bounce, roll and sway – plus brake dive and acceleration squat
• Help maintain consistent handling and braking
• Help maintain wheel alignment
• Help reduce the potential of premature wear on tires and other suspension parts

Difference between shocks and struts:

Shocks and struts are two distinct parts with different functions. While both can help with your vehicle’s ride and handling, these parts work in different ways. Shocks are individual components of the suspension system while struts are a major structural component of the chassis and suspension system.

Warning signs:

While many variables determine the life of your shocks or struts, experiencing any of these seven symptoms means it’s time for replacements.

1.  Instability at highway speeds. Your vehicle never feels completely stable on the highway and is constantly moving up and down. The movement may be slight, but you notice it.
2. Vehicle “tips” to one side in turns. When taking a sharp turn or an off-ramp, your vehicle leans or “tips” to the outside of the turn and feels wobbly.
3. The front end dives more than expected during hard braking. You may not notice this until you have to jump hard on the brakes.
4. Rear-end squat during acceleration. You’ll notice the front end of your vehicle rising while the rear “squats” during hard acceleration.
5. Tyres bouncing excessively. After hitting a bump, you can feel a tyre (or tyres) reacting or “bouncing” for a time. You may also hear a clunking noise.
6. Unusual tyre wear. Because the tyre isn’t being held firmly to the road, the tread wears in a wavy manner instead of evenly.
7. Leaking fluid on the exterior of shocks or struts. This is a sign that the seals have broken and the internal fluids essential to proper function are escaping.