If you own a vehicle, it is quite common to figure out when to replace shocks or struts. That’s mainly because you don’t see them. But you should still focus on timely replacement of them to ensure expensive damages in the long run. To help you with that, we thought of sharing the most common signs of suspension wear. As a resident of North Brisbane, understand these signs and get your shocks or struts replaced accordingly to avoid problems in the long run.
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What exactly are shocks and struts?
Before we begin, let’s learn what shock absorbers are all about. The suspension system of any car is made out of a combination of shocks, springs, and struts. You will be able to see this when you look behind any of the wheels. Shocks are one of the hardest working parts of your car. That’s because they continuously move up & down. In fact, the shocks will move up and down more than 1,250 times every kilometre you travel. When you reach 50,000 kilometres on mileage, your shocks will have performed over 50 million times.
Shock absorbers play a major role in the functionality of your brakes as well. On top of that, they support the functionality of tyres, suspension, and even the crash avoidance system. That’s why you need to be mindful of timely strut replacement. It will help you to ensure your overall safety on the road we well.
Does every vehicle have shocks and struts?
Not every vehicle comes with both shocks and struts. The performance of shock absorbers is to absorb shocks while you travel on the road. They can help you to enhance vehicle stability and avoid a bumpy ride.
On the other hand, struts offer many more uses. You can even call them as a part of the suspension system of your car. They provide much-needed support for the alignment of your wheels as well. That’s the main reason why you need to go ahead with wheel alignment upon replacing the struts.
You need to work with a reputed mechanic and see whether your vehicle has only shocks or both shocks and struts. Then you will be able to go ahead with replacing them to avoid a bumpy ride and improve road handling.
Signs indicating your shocks or struts need replacement
Now you have a better idea of what both struts and shocks do. With that in mind, let’s explore the signs that indicate the excessive wear of these components.
✓You are experiencing a bumpy ride
Experiencing a bumpy ride is the most common sign of damaged shocks or struts. You will notice this even when you are driving on a road without potholes. That’s mainly because the shocks or struts are not in a position to offer enough dampening effect to the vehicle. Hence, you will end up with excessive car vibrations. This can create an impact on the steering response you get as well. For example, you may lose control as you drive on top of a pothole or a bump.
✓You notice uneven tyre wear
As mentioned earlier, struts play a major role in your wheel alignment system. But when you have bad struts, your alignment will all go wrong. This is where you will notice uneven tyre wear. With careful examination, it would be possible to confirm whether you experience uneven tyre wear due to ageing or alignment issues. For example, suspension system issues can result in the formation of scalloped dips or cups around the edge of the tyre tread. You need to go ahead with strut replacement as soon as you notice this. Otherwise, you will be compromising your safety on the road.
✓You have issues with steering
Steering issues can also keep you away from experiencing a smooth ride on the road. A shock or strut issue can result in a steering problem as well. This is where you notice that your steering control has become harder or stiff. Along with that, you will also have to deal with the swaying motion of the car when you switch lanes or take a turn.
✓You have issues with braking
While shocks support your vehicle by absorbing bumps, struts offer much-needed support for the suspension and braking system. When you hit on the brakes, you will notice that your car is unstable. In other words, the car would lurch forward or go for a nosedive as you hit on the brakes.
✓You experience fluid leaks
One of the most obvious signs of shock or strut damage would be fluid leaks. However, fluid leaks can take place due to many other reasons. That’s why it is a good thing to seek the assistance of a reputed mechanic as soon as you notice a fluid leak. Then you can diagnose and figure out where the issue is.
✓You have hit the mileage
As mentioned earlier, both struts and shock work hard for every inch you move your vehicle. Hence, you will come across the need to replace them once every 50,000 miles. However, this would vary based on the make and model of the car that you drive. For example, some of the cars come with more reliable suspension systems, which last longer. Hence, you should not just use this as the only factor to replace shocks or struts. You can also refer to the service manual of your car to get more information.
✓You hear unusual noises
Last but not least, it would be possible to hear unusual noises coming from your vehicle when you have problems with shocks and struts. If you hear banging or knocking sounds coming from your car, you need to be mindful of this.
Replace your shocks or struts before it is too late
You need to pay careful attention to these signs, indicating excessive wear of shocks and struts. Then you will be able to proceed with fixing them immediately. Replacing shocks and struts in a timely manner will not just extend the overall lifetime of your vehicle. It can also keep you safe on the road.
If you need any expert support with replacing the shocks and struts, you need to get in touch with an expert. This is where SNC Automotive can help. They are the best service team for any vehicle owner looking for shock or strut replacement services in North Brisbane. Feel free to contact these specialists and they will offer a prompt service. No matter what the make and model of your vehicle is, you can contact them to get expert help.