Vehicle Safety Stems From Properly Serviced and Maintained Shocks, Struts and Suspensions
Vehicle safety stems from where rubber meets the road (tires) however many people don’t realize that the 3 S’s are just as important to your immediate safety while on the road as well.
To begin – Your vehicle has a system called suspension. The suspension system is a protective component is composed of springs and absorbers in order to make your drivability smooth and consistent regardless of the road conditions, bumps, and holes that might cause abnormal impacts to your vehicle.
A few indicators that your vehicles suspension is not functioning optimally include:
- Hearing squeaks or clunks while driving over bumps
- Feeling the severity over every bump or road issue you drive over
- Difficulty steering
- Knocking sounds when steering or braking
What are Shocks and Struts?
These two are individual components within the suspension system. Shocks are also called shock absorbers. These parts help mitigate and control the rebound & impact movement of your vehicle’s suspension. They ensure the tires on your vehicle always maintain on the road even when they are disrupted by outside energy forces.
A strut is comprised of multiple other parts that work within the suspension system to create one full operating composition. In other words, the shock absorber is a part of the strut assembly. Another major part in the strut assembly is called the coil spring. The spring helps support the vehicle when it is forced to adjust and withstand road issues.
Any time a piece of the suspension system is replaced: we highly recommend doing a tire alignment as well. There is no point to spend good quality time and money on suspension repairs without following through to complete proper functionality and a better drivability.
When should you replace shocks or struts?
- Suspension systems convert energy into heat which dissipates through the shock body. As the vehicle is used and driven more often the increased heat will breakdown and lose the ability to withstand impacts from outside forces. Therefore, we recommend every 50,000 miles
- Visual proof from an ASE Certified Mechanic that shows leaks around the shocks or struts.
- Visual proof from an ASE Certified Mechanic that shows the shocks or struts are dented or damaged.
- If you have poor steering, noises when braking, going over a bump, shaking while driving, or catch yourself needing to break far more in advance than usual.
- Unusual wear patterns on your tires.