How long can you drive on worn out shocks and struts? It depends. Like other parts on your vehicle, they rarely fail overnight. Instead, it’s a process where they gradually wear down, causing more problems with your drive. Eventually, their failure can lead to an accident. 

But before shocks and struts fail, they start giving warning signals. That’s where you should start paying attention. This gives you ample warning, and provides you with enough time to get them replaced. 

How shocks and struts work

Shocks and struts work as stabilizers. Every turn you make, every time you accelerate or step on the brakes, the shocks and struts work to keep your vehicle under control. Without shocks and struts, you would feel every bump in the road. 

Today’s vehicles use shocks, struts, or a combination of the two. Though the two are often used interchangeably, there is a difference. Shocks are individual components of the suspension system, while struts are a structural component.  

A shock absorbers job is to control the spring and suspension movement by converting kinetic energy into heat energy, and dissipating it through hydraulic fluid.  All modern day shock absorbers are velocity sensitive, which means with faster movement comes more resistance. That allows the shock absorber to adjust to the varying road conditions. This protects you from bouncing, swaying, or diving as you stop and go in traffic. 

A strut is a structural part of the suspension, taking the place of the control arm and upper ball joint of the conventional system. It’s lighter and takes up less space than a shock absorber. Struts provide the same damping function as shock absorbers. But they also provide structural support for the vehicle’s suspension. It supports the spring, and keeps the tire in alignment. It also bears the side load placed on the suspension. While struts also provide comfort and handling, they also are designed for wheel alignment and prevent wear on other parts of the suspension system. 

How shocks and struts can cause an accident

Shocks and struts gradually wear out over time. You’ll start noticing a difference in the way your vehicle handles as you drive. If they fail, it can lead to an accident as you:

Drive over bumps and dips

If your shocks and struts aren’t working, you lose your ability to navigate. Bumps and dips can cause vibration, which may cause you to lose control over your vehicle. Taking a speed bump too fast may make it feel like your car is “flying.” 

Steer around curves and turns

If your vehicle isn’t properly gripping the road, it can cause you to over or understeer, putting you in a dangerous situation. 

Lose control over your brakes

Your shocks and struts and anti-lock braking system work together to help you drive. If your shocks and struts aren’t working, that passes into your braking system. If you’re driving along on a bumpy road, for example, you may lose control over your steering, and not have the ability to brake for other objects in your path. 

Cause other parts to wear down faster

Your vehicle consists of 10,000 working parts, all coming together to help you stay comfortable and safe while you drive. If one part wears down and fails, it impacts every other part of the system. Shocks and struts can affect a variety of parts, including tires, brakes, and more. Following a regular maintenance schedule is the easiest way to ensure every component is working well to help you drive safely down the road. 

What are the warning signs of failing shocks and struts?

Luckily, shocks and struts don’t wear down without warning. If you notice any of these warning signs, schedule an appointment with a mechanic as soon as possible. 

• You feel a constant up and down movement as you drive, especially at higher speeds. The movement may be slight, but once you notice it, it’s time for an inspection. 
  
• When you turn, you notice the vehicle leans to one side or the other. It feels wobbly as it completes the action for the turn. 
  
• The front end dives down as you brake, especially when you hard brake. You may feel like you need to apply more pressure to come to a complete stop. 
  
• The rear squats down as you accelerate as the front end rises, especially with hard acceleration.
  
• You feel bouncing from the tires, especially as you hit a bump or dip in the road. It may bounce for some time, or produce a clunking noise as it bounces. 
  
• You notice unusual tire wear. This is because the tires aren’t fully connecting with the road. 
  
• You notice a fluid leak around the shocks and struts. This is a sign the seal is broken and it no longer can properly function. 
  

Is it dangerous to drive with bad shocks and struts? 

In short, the answer is: Yes. 

Like other parts on your vehicle, each is installed for safety and functionality. If one part isn’t working correctly, it impacts all other parts within the system. 

That’s why as the pilot of your vehicle, it’s important to pay attention to how your car drives. If your car feels unstable, or it tips to the side as you drive, or you feel it bouncing with acceleration or stopping, or you see any fluid leaks, it’s time to schedule an inspection. 

Shocks and struts are sold and replaced in pairs. While it’s not required to replace the front and rear shocks or struts at the same time, it’s usually suggested. Because shocks and struts wear down at the same rate, if one pair needs replacing, the others won’t be far behind it. It’s easier to get them all replaced at the same time. 

Is it time to replace your shocks and struts? Have you noticed a change in the way your vehicle drives? 

Don’t wait for more problems to arise, Schedule your inspection today and keep your car in good working condition. Your comfort and safety may depend on it. 

Describe your vehicle’s performance. Most people would say things about the power it has when driving on the road. 

But there’s another side of performance that determines just how enjoyable the ride is. 

If you’ve ever ridden in an old pickup truck, imagine how bumpy the ride was as you rambled down the road. Every bump, every pothole shot right through your system. 

Now think about the ride in a high performance car. You barely heard the road. You definitely didn’t feel it. Every bump was handled with ease, barely registering on your radar. 

You can thank the shocks and struts in your vehicle for that. 

What’s the difference between a shock and strut?

Shocks and struts are often used interchangeably. Yet they have distinct differences. You can not substitute one for the other. If your vehicle uses struts, you cannot replace them with shocks. 

A shock is the piece of the suspension system that helps coil springs absorb the impact of the road. It’s the shock’s job to take the bounce out of the movement of the car. They help keep the tires fully connected with the road instead of bouncing up as it hits different bumps in the road. 

A strut combines a shock absorber and the coil spring into one single unit. While it acts as an absorber with every bump your car hits, it also provides structural support and integrity to the suspension system. 

What does your vehicle use, shocks or struts?

Each wheel will either have a shock or a strut. They come in pairs. If your rear left wheel has a shock, your rear right wheel will too. 

However, your vehicle may have shocks on one axle, and struts on another. Most modern vehicles have struts on the front axle, and shocks on the rear axle. You might also find struts on both axles, while it’s rare to have shocks on all four. 

What does your car use? 

Check your owner’s manual. If you no longer have it, a quick check online will determine what your make and model have in place. 

You can also check under the car. They are easily seen if you look underneath your vehicle. 

A mechanic can also tell you which components are attached to your suspension system. They can also make recommendations for replacement, when necessary. 

Do shocks and struts need to be replaced at the same time?

We alluded to the answer above. Shocks and struts come in pairs. What’s located on one side of the axle will appear on the other. 

Shocks and struts are always sold in pairs, and should be replaced in pairs. This provides consistency to both sides of the vehicle. 

What’s more, mechanics suggest that you replace all four at the same time. This gives you a consistent response on your vehicle overall, every single bump you hit in the road. 

If one set of shocks or struts wears out, chances are the other set isn’t far behind. By replacing them all at the same time, you ensure a safer, more comfortable ride. 

How do you know when your shocks and struts need replacing?

Shocks and struts tend to wear out every 50,000 to 100,000 miles. The more aggressive you are on the road, the faster they will wear out. If you frequently drive on dirt roads, and love taking advantage of mountain driving, you’re more likely to replace them sooner rather than later. 

Like other components, shocks and struts don’t wear out all at once. Instead, they provide warning signs of potential problems. 

Bumpy ride

It might start gradually, but you’ll eventually notice your ride is getting rougher. You start to feel every bump in the road. Does your vehicle bounce more than once or twice when you hit a bump? Let it go on too long, and you’ll feel like you could lose control. 

Fluid leak

Whenever you notice leaking fluid, it’s a sign to bring the car in for inspection. Leaking fluid near the exterior of the shocks and struts is a sign they’ve been compromised and they no longer have enough hydraulic fluid to do their job. If you aren’t sure if the fluid is coming from the shock absorber, wipe it down and check it again in a few miles. 

Uneven tread wear

Take a look at your tire tread from time to time. It can tell you a lot about performance. If you notice wavy dips on the tread, it’s a sign you have worn shocks and struts. This is caused when the tires don’t stay firmly on the road as you drive. Instead, they bounce up from time to time, which creates uneven wear marks. This will compromise your tires faster, and decrease your stopping power. 

Braking problems

A classic sign of worn out brakes and struts includes a nosedive when you hit the brakes, or swaying as you make a turn. Because the shocks and struts aren’t able to handle the changes in your vehicle’s weight distribution effectively, your car will decrease in performance. 

Today’s vehicles are designed with a variety of safety systems built into the structure. Anti-lock brakes and stability control systems all rely on the various components to keep your car safe. If any piece isn’t functioning properly, it puts the entire structure at risk. Response is everything in an emergency. 

The best way to know when it’s time to replace your shocks and struts is to let a technician evaluate your suspension from time to time. If you notice a sign, book your appointment sooner rather than later. Also consider creating inspection appointments at the change of seasons. This is a great way to ensure your vehicle is ready for the ice and snow of winter, and the heat of the summer.  

After any suspension work, it’s a good idea for a full alignment too. This ensures your car is balanced and ready for all the driving you’ll do in the coming weeks and months. 

When was the last time you had your suspension system checked? Shocks and struts need to be replaced in pairs, especially when you notice problems. If you suspect an issue, give us a call today. 

Have you started noticing a change in the way your car drives?

Maybe it’s taking longer to come to a complete stop. Maybe your car seems to sway more, side to side, even when it’s a still day. Maybe your car seems to bounce more, bottoming out occasionally when you head through a dip in the road.

What’s wrong with your car?

What are shocks and struts?

Depending on what vehicle you drive, you’ll find it uses shocks, struts, or a combination of the two. The purpose of shocks and struts is to stabilize your car. Every time you push down on the pedal to accelerate, hit the brake pedal to slow and stop, or turn the steering wheel to control your movements, it’s the shocks and struts that ensure your movement is stable, and doesn’t spin or roll your car. If the shocks and struts are working properly, you won’t feel the bumps in the road. Instead, it will be a smooth ride.

Your shocks and struts are designed to last anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 miles. However, those are general guidelines based on all the cars on the road today. The vehicle you drive comes with its own set of guidelines; consult your owner’s manual for more specific ranges. It also depends on your driving patterns. Someone who drives in city traffic every day, just a few miles of stop and go driving, will have different results than a performance vehicle that drives up and down the mountain all the time.

And while you might not pay much attention to them when your vehicle is operating correctly, you’ll definitely notice when the shocks and struts are starting to fail. They:

• Provide you with a comfortable ride
• Controls the body movement your vehicle makes
• Provides your vehicle with stability throughout acceleration, turns, and stops
• Keeps your tires well grounded to the road
• Prevents uneven tread wear on your tires

Keep in mind that today’s vehicles are technology driven units where all parts work together. That’s to technology, a lot of the parts work together through automation, with each piece relying on the other to provide a smooth ride. When one part weakens or fails, it impacts every other part in the system.

What’s the difference between shocks and struts?

If you look in your owner’s manual, you’ll discover your vehicle has either shocks, struts, or both. What’s the difference?

A shock and a strut do essentially the same thing. They control movement of the spring, and stop the bouncing of your car. Yet even though they perform the same task, they aren’t the same part. You could never replace a shock with a strut or vice versa. Your car will be built either with a shock or a strut at each wheel, never both. This is how the suspension system is controlled, and it must remain intact for proper function.

The main difference is in function. A strut is built into the structure of the suspension system. A shock isn’t.

A strut is a pivotal point of the steering system, greatly impacting the alignment of the vehicle. Because of this, if your car uses struts, you’ll always need an alignment when replacing struts. This is also why struts are usually more expensive than shocks, because they are an integral part of your vehicle.

While people will often say “shocks and struts” as if they are interchangeable, clearly they aren’t. But to add to the confusion, some vehicles use both – struts in the front and shocks on the rear.

How do you know if your shocks are bad on your car?

Like every part of your vehicle, your shocks and struts won’t go bad without warning signs. Here are three of the biggest things you’ll notice if your vehicle is in need of new shocks or struts.

A bouncy ride. If your car uses shocks, the shock absorbers and the coil spring are mounted separately to your vehicle. If your car uses struts, the coil spring and shock absorber are combined.

In either case, it’s the shock absorbers that take the abuse from the road, and provide you with a smooth ride. As these wear out, they will be looser, not able to absorb as much of the road as you drive it, giving you a more noticeable ride. That bounce isn’t your imagination; it’s your vehicle’s way of telling you something is wrong.

Leaking fluid. Inside your shocks or struts is a piston and hydraulic fluid. When everything is working as it should, this is a self-contained unit. The piston pushes against the hydraulic fluid, which absorbs the force. Over time, parts wear down, and small leaks can occur. While small amounts aren’t necessarily a problem, if you notice the hydraulic fluid either on the shock or strut itself, or on the road, it’s time to have one of our mechanics check out the system. It could be a sign your car isn’t working the way it should.

Tire tread. When was the last time you paid attention to the tread on your tires? As shocks and struts go bad, they can cause uneven tire wear. Every time you hit something in the road, it impacts the rubber of the tire. And if one portion is hitting the ground more than others, you’ll start to see it in the wear.

This is sometimes referred to as scalloping or cupping. Look for smooth spots in uneven placement. These parts have been scraped off as it connects more with the road.

I think it’s my shocks and struts, now what?

After reading this article, are you convinced it’s your shocks and struts? What’s next?

Your best course of action is to schedule a maintenance visit with one of our mechanics right away.

Our best advice is to select a high quality, brand name product. And ask questions about your final selection. This isn’t one size fits all. Some shocks are built a little stiffer for performance, while others are designed to give you a more comfortable ride. The only way a mechanic can make the best recommendation is if they understand how you drive.

It’s important to replace all parts as they wear. You can’t put off a repair, hoping it won’t change. Every mile you put on a worn out part only increases its chance of failure.

Are you in the market for new shocks and struts?

Don’t you just love the Colorado roads right now? When the snow clears away for a day or two, you still feel like you’re off-roading it down the highway. It’s a game of “how to avoid the potholes”, and all-too-often, the potholes win.

When you hit one, you cringe. You can feel the impact ripple through you and your vehicle. This can take its toll on how well your car handles.

A car’s suspension system is designed to hold up the weight of the vehicle, and absorb the impact of the road while providing the occupants a smooth ride. One of the critical components of the suspension system are shocks and struts.

Both shocks and struts curb a car’s tendency to bounce while moving. Every time you start, stop, turn corners, or hit bumps in the road, it’s shocks and struts that create a smooth riding experience.

What are shocks and struts? What’s the difference?

Before we talk about possible problems with your vehicle’s shocks and struts, it’s important to understand what they are.

In many cases, the terms shocks and struts are used interchangeably, but they do provide two separate functions.

As a part of the suspension system, every vehicle has a combination of springs, and either shocks or struts. Springs are what support the weight of the vehicle to cushion the ride. This prevents the car’s passengers from experiencing harsh jolts as it rides on rough and uneven roads.

Shocks, also known as shock absorbers, do what their name implies: they absorb the shock of the road. Shocks aren’t a crucial piece of the suspension system; you could, in theory, remove them and still be able to drive. However, they are built into a vehicle to provide comfort and stability no matter what the conditions of the road are like.

Struts are an integral part of a vehicle’s suspension system. They play a key role in absorbing the roughness of the road. MacPherson struts are the most common struts on today’s vehicles. They combine the spring and strut together into one serviceable part. However, depending on the vehicle you drive, the two might be separate. In that case, the strut acts as a connecting point between the spring and the vehicle.

How do I know if my shocks and struts are bad?

Like other parts of your vehicle, shocks and struts have warning signs that they are failing. But they aren’t components you’ll replace on a regular basis. They are engineered to last anywhere from 50,000 to 90,000 miles or more, depending on how you drive.

Still, you can’t miss the signs that your shocks and struts are starting to fail. Have you experienced any of these signs?

Nose diving – this is probably one of the easiest signs to recognize; you’ll see this portrayed on television a lot. Cars stay level because of shocks and struts. If they aren’t working the way they are designed, every time you step on the brake pedal, your car will dip forward, with the nose diving towards the pavement in the process. There is also the possibility of the rear of your car bouncing down when you accelerate; this is known as squats.

Bouncing – the shocks and struts absorb the roughness of the road. However, if you notice your car bouncing up and down with each bump and you can feel it in the way you move up and down in your seat, your shocks and struts have a problem that should be serviced as soon as possible.

Tire bouncing – if the shocks and struts aren’t absorbing the impact of the road, the tires can take on the stress. If they aren’t connecting with the pavement as designed, they can wear before their time.

Fluid leaks – shocks and struts contain hydraulic fluid. As they wear, they can start leaking. If you notice what looks like a leak by your tires, bring it in to be serviced as soon as you can.

Handling problems – pay attention to the way your car handles no matter what the road conditions are. This will help you determine when things start to go wrong. Problems with shocks and struts can make your car shift from side to side even when the weather isn’t there to affect it. You should never feel a swaying motion as you drive.

Can I test for bad shocks and struts?

Still not sure if it’s your shocks and struts going bad? Luckily, there is a test you can perform to determine if your shocks and struts are in good working condition. It’s called the bounce test, and it works like this.

Move to the front or rear of your car. Push down as hard as you can, and then pull your hands away. If your car doesn’t bounce, your shocks and struts are fine. A bounce suggests that the shocks and struts are starting to wear, or a problem already exists. This is your sign that it’s time to get your vehicle serviced and have your shocks and struts replaced.

Your suspension system needs regular maintenance too

As a frequent driver, you’re probably in the habit of basic maintenance items. You bring it in for an oil change every few months or 5,000 miles, whichever comes first. You wash it and add windshield washer fluid seasonally.  You get new tires as the tread wears down.

Even if your vehicle isn’t showing any signs that the shocks and struts are going bad, it’s a good idea to have one of our mechanics evaluate your suspension system on an annual basis. This of it as cheap insurance to ensure your car is in good working order, and will keep you and your car’s occupants safe and secure, ready to enjoy the ride.

Shocks and struts are not the same, and are not interchangeable components of your vehicle. Whether they are structurally integrated together or are separate parts, it’s important to have both in good working condition to have a safe ride.

Are your shocks and struts in good condition?