The shock absorbers or struts on your car affect the way your car rides and handles on the road. If the shocks are worn, you may start to notice changes in the car and the way it drives that can indicate a problem. Watch for the telltale signs of shock or strut wear to help you determine if and when you need new shocks or struts on your vehicle.
Handling Problems
One of the most common signs of worn shock absorbers is handling changes in the car. If you notice changes in the way the car handles, have a professional check the car for signs of damage or wear.
Vibrations in the Suspension
Often as your shock absorbers or struts start to wear, they start to develop some play in them and can transfer vibrations them to the chassis of the car. When the shocks are new, they absorb these vibrations and make the ride smooth, but if you start to notice vibrations, you more than likely need new shocks.
Cornering Problems
Another sign that the shocks on your car no longer work is the way the car handles corners. Shocks help to limit body roll on the suspension, so as they start to wear out, you may notice the car leans or rolls over further on the suspension when you go around a corner.
The body roll is most noticeable if you take a corner at higher speeds, but this indicator can show up even in low-speed. The rolling sensation will worsen as the shocks wear and can start to make it hard to handle the car at highway speeds.
Leaking Shocks
Shocks absorbers are filled with oil and have a single rod that passes through a seal on the top of the shock body. The seal on the shock can start to leak over time and allow oil to seep out of the shock. The oil in the shock is critical to the dampening ability of the shock so when it is gone, the shock will no longer work.
If you see oil on the shocks or suspension near the shocks, have your service technician check to see if the shocks are leaking. A leaking shock needs to be replaced right away and in most situations, once one starts to leak, the other three are not far behind.
Replace the shocks as a set if possible, but if you can’t do all four, at least replace both of the shocks on the end of the car that has the leaky one. Replacing a single shock can worsen the handling characteristics of the car.
Noisy Shocks
Another telltale sign that the shocks under your car are wearing is noise. Rattling or banging sounds as you go over bumps in the road can indicate a loose shock, one that has a bad bushing, or one that has lost all its oil and is rattling inside the shock body.
Sometimes the noises you hear under the car are not from the shocks, but you still need to know the cause. Anytime you hear noises under the car, a full inspection of the suspension is in order.
Bouncing or Rough Riding Shocks
One of the most common things people notice when the shocks on their car are worn out it that the suspension begins to bounce when they hit a bump. The shock absorbers are supposed to dampen the suspension, but if they are worn out, the springs can bounce excessively and the ride can be very uncomfortable.
At Euroclassics Limited, our technicians can help you figure out what causes your car to ride rough or handle poorly. Bring your car in for a suspension inspection today. We can help you improve the ride and handling of your car and make it fun to drive again.
