Nine Ways to Tell If Your Shocks or Struts are Going Bad

Does your car bounce around worse than a kangaroo? Does it squeak over bumps? Nancy explains nine ways to tell us if your shocks or struts are going bad!

Transcript:

Are you bouncing down the road? Does the car suddenly not feel new again? Do you not have the control you used to have?

Hi, I’m Nancy at Kneble’s Auto, and that sounds like you have worn struts or shocks. Worn struts or shocks can wear at other suspension parts and cause a costly repair.

Now, a shock and a strut, they have the same function. They absorb the bounce of the vehicle, but your shock is mounted one end to the frame of the vehicle and the other end to the lower suspension.

Whereas your strut, as this is a complete strut, is an integral part of the suspension.

Now, having a worn-out shock as this one is, you can notice a fluid leak that should not be. A worn out strut, the rod should not move.

There are nine things you can notice if you are having worn out struts or shocks.

Number one, you could get a very noisy bouncy ride.

Number two, if you’re taking curves or you’re in a wind gust, you may not have that steering control you’re used to having.

Number three, if you’re going over bumps, you can bottom out your car. Number four, you may not have the traction you should have, as four tires are not always on the road at the same time.

Number five, you can get cupping of the tires. They will not wear evenly.

Number six, as you go to stop, allow for more stopping distance because you’re bouncing down the road.

Number seven, if you go to accelerate the front of your car, it may lift a little.

Number eight, if you go to stop the car, the front of the car may do what’s a nosedive.

And number nine, as you’re taking the curve of the road, you may notice that the outer part of the vehicle away from the curve is lifting slightly because of your warn shocks or struts.

So definitely you want to have them tested, and you want to make sure that they’re in good condition because nobody likes a bouncy ride. Make the car feel like new.

Now, if you like what I said, press the like button, share the information, and if you have any other information or questions, please put it in the comments below, and thank you for watching.

Check out our other videos for more information about your car.