Before we get into the signs that your shocks need to be replaced – and the struts, too – let’s talk a second about what shocks and struts do. Both suspension parts help stabilize your automobile, so that you don’t feel every bump in the road or lean to the side when you turn a corner. Your car, truck, CUV, or SUV could have primarily struts, shocks, or a combination of the two. Scotty’s Automotive can replace them when they go bad, which is usually accompanied by the following signs.
A Sense of Instability
Your vehicle should not feel unstable, whether you’re driving on surface streets or highways. If you feel your vehicle being jostled around, especially at higher speeds, and you don’t feel as if you have complete control, your shock and struts are likely wearing down and are no longer able to absorb bumps, uneven roads, or momentum motion.
Speaking of Momentum Motion
Momentum motion is the direction your vehicle’s body heads in response to your driving command. When you turn a corner, your automobile would lean to the side if you didn’t have shocks and struts. It would also dive forward when you stop and lean to the back when you accelerate. If your vehicle’s body does these things, your shocks and struts are worn.
You Feel (and Hear) Bouncing
One of the most important roles the shocks and struts play in your vehicle’s suspension is to keep the tires on the road. The shocks and struts are designed to absorb the bumps in the road so your tires don’t lose their grip. If you feel your tires bouncing – you might hear this, too, as well as clunking noises when you go over bumps – your shocks and struts are bad.
Uneven Tire Tread Wear
When your tires bounce up and down on the road rather than keep their grip, your tire tread will wear down unevenly. You’ll see spots or patches of tread wear, and this is a surefire sign that you need new shocks and struts. Your tires should wear down evenly provided you take care of them. Patchy tire tread wear is a sign something is wrong with the suspension.
That problem is most likely the shocks and struts, but we’ll inspect your suspension to ensure you don’t have any other trouble, as well. We are Scotty’s Automotive Service, LLC, and we don’t mean to brag, but we are the best auto repair shop in Montague, NJ. Well, at least we strive to be, which means your satisfaction is our number one priority.
