If you are a regular at any car repair shop, chances are you’ve seen the ads for shocks and struts. But without taking your car in for a check up, is there a way for you to determine when it’s time for shock replacement on your car?

Different manufacturers of shocks and struts provide different guidelines for their products. Many mechanics will tell you it’s not as cut and dry as it is with oil changes and spark plugs. Instead, it depends on the circumstances of your driving habits, and the overall characteristics of your car. Instead of relying on mileage as a test, its more important to know the habits of your car.

Start with the “bounce test”. A bounce test is easy to perform: simply apply pressure to the body or bumper of the car to bounce the car. If the car continues to move up and down more than a time or two after release, the parts are showing wear and should be replaced.

You can also notice your cars behavior. When you drive on rough roads or hit a bump, does it bounce excessively? Does the nose dip down when breaking? Is it easy to bottom out the suspension when backing out of the driveway or hauling extra passengers or cargo?

Any of these could be a sign your car is in need of a shock replacement.

And driving on worn out shocks can be a hazard over time. Worn out shocks and struts may cause your stopping distance to increase, especially on rough surfaces. It can have an impact on your driving capabilities, especially in adverse conditions. And they can cause damage to your tires prematurely, meaning you’ll have more expense than is truly necessary.

[Express Care is a family owned auto repair shop in the Denver Colorado area that offers a variety of services, including shock replacement. Conveniently located at Evans and I-25, we look forward to doing business with you.]