5 Reasons Why You Need to Show Your Shocks and Struts Some Love
When it comes to vehicle maintenance, it’s easy to ignore the parts you can’t see. Like your shocks and struts! Tucked away under your vehicle, they don’t always get the attention they deserve.
Because shocks and struts wear out gradually over time, problems may not be as noticeable as, say, a flat tire or a dead battery. The incremental loss of handling, control and comfort may be practically unnoticeable until damage is already occurring.
That’s why it’s so important to have your shocks and struts regularly inspected and maintained.
But before we get to that…what’s the difference between shocks and struts?
Shocks do one thing and one thing only: They keep your vehicle from bouncing.
Struts are a little more complex. They’re a structural part of the suspension system that combines a whole bunch of elements, including the shocks and the springs. They help stabilize your vehicle and keep it from bouncing and bottoming out.
Depending on your vehicle’s make and model, it might have shocks, struts or both.
Now that we have that sorted out, let’s move on to the important stuff: When your shocks and struts are worn…
Your tires will bounce excessively over bumps
This is annoying. Really annoying. But it goes beyond spilled coffee—all of this bouncing affects steering and handling, which can make driving quite dangerous.
They can contribute to hydroplaning
When shocks and struts wear out, they fail at one of their most important jobs: keeping your tires firmly on the road. In wet conditions, this loss of grip can lead to hydroplaning.
Your front end will dive when you stop
During braking, worn shocks or struts will cause your vehicle to nose dive. The rear of the vehicle will rise and prevent the tires from keeping a grip on the road. The result? Poor traction, loss of control and a significantly longer stopping distance. And, it’ll put extra stress on your front brakes and wear them out faster.
Your tires will wear out sooner than they should
Worn shocks and struts can cause your suspension to move excessively and can also negatively impact vehicle alignment. This causes extra (and often uneven) wear on your tires.
Your vehicle will suffer unnecessary wear and tear
When your shocks and struts fail to perform as they should and your car is bouncing all over the place, the rest of your vehicle has to absorb all that excess energy. Your suspension and steering parts will take the heaviest beating, but other key components and systems will also be affected.
As you can see, shocks and struts are crucial components of your vehicle’s suspension system. If you’d like to have them inspected, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our expert mechanics in Victoria BC will do a thorough check and let you know if your shocks and struts are in need of repair, and will alert you of any issues you may need to deal with in the future.
