Buying New Shocks And Struts - What You Should Know

The first cars that were invented basically had tires that were essentially oversized rubber bands stretched over wooden frames. They didn't even think much about the suspension system either. Today however, suspension technology has improved to the point where riding in your car is just as comfortable as sitting at home on your living room couch and the car handles like it's running on rails. Between the pneumatic tire, springs, struts and shocks, you can travel the roughest of roads and never wake the baby asleep in the back seat. However, shocks and struts do wear out and have to be replaced. Knowing when to change them not only keeps your car riding smooth but keeps it running smoother as well.

There's actually a fairly simple test to see if your shocks and struts are worn out. Simply push down on the front or the back of your vehicle and bounce it up and down. When you stop "bouncing" your car, it should move back into "normal" position at once and not bounce any further. If it continues to move up and down, your shocks or struts are worn and should be replaced. Even though car makers and the manufacturers of shocks and struts have a suggested mileage when they should be replaced, it's always good to test occasionally to ensure your car is safe.

Although struts and shocks makes for a smoother ride, their main purpose is to improve how your car handles. If they are worn out, not only does your car ride rougher, it's actually more difficult to drive. That's because the shocks and struts, important on any car but more importantly on front wheel drive cars are a major component in the interface between the steering wheel and the wheel. Worn shocks or struts means you have less control over the wheels which means you have less control over the car. This may create a dangerous situation, especially with wet or icy roads. Anything that can cause the wheels to lose grip can lead to hydroplaning and an accident.

Even under the best of conditions, worn shocks and struts can cause other problems as well. Because these components do connect to the wheels, being worn out can make the tires wear unevenly and can cause additional stress on other components such as wheel bearings and tie-rod ends. If you feel your car's handling change or if it's coming close to the mileage suggestions to have your shocks and struts change out, have your mechanic take a look and if needed, put on new ones. They're usually not very expensive and keep your car riding smooth and running safe.

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