Depending on the year, make, and model, your automobile has struts and shocks or just struts. Scotty’s Automotive advises that either way, the signs that you need new struts and shocks are the same. Let’s talk about the symptoms of worn shocks and struts so you can identify the problem easily.
1. Bouncing Problems
Worn struts and shocks can make you feel as if you’re driving a bumper car. You will notice excess bouncing every time you hit a bump in the road. Your vehicle will also lean into turns, lean forward when you stop, and lean backward when you accelerate. Smoothness will be a thing of the past.
2. Braking Trouble
The instability of worn struts can make braking feel strange. You may feel as if you are going to lose control of your automobile when you apply the brakes, or you may notice that the brakes are not as responsive as they used to be. As we said above, you’ll also deal with momentum motion.
3. Control Issues
Worn shocks can also make it difficult to steer your automobile because they affect the suspension. Your steering wheel might get harder to turn, making it more difficult to steer and control your automobile. You’ll also notice the leaning we talked about previously when you turn corners.
4. Fluid Leaks
Your struts might start leaking or there may be a fluid leak above them from another engine part that affects the performance of these suspension parts. You can visually inspect your shocks and struts yourself if you feel like looking behind your wheels with a flashlight. They shouldn’t be oily.
5. Mileage Milestone
One sign you need new shocks isn’t really a sign at all. Rather, it’s a mileage milestone. Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to replace the struts and/or shocks every 50,000 miles, so if you’ve driven your automobile that long without replacing them, consider setting an inspection appointment.
6.Uneven Tread Wear
Finally, the struts and shocks help to keep your tires’ treads directly on the road. If they are wearing down, your tires will bounce on and off the pavement, and this leaves uneven tire tread wear in the form of cups or scallops. Inspect your tire tread regularly to ensure it’s wearing down evenly.
Scotty’s Automotive works tirelessly to be the best auto shop in Montague, NJ. Schedule an appointment with us for a suspension inspection. We’ll check the struts and shocks and replace them if necessary.
