United Tire and Service News

Every driver knows they need to take good care of their vehicle’s engine, check their brakes, change their oil regularly, and ensure their tires are up to snuff. However, they might never get around to considering that same vehicle’s suspension system, and they really should.

 

When your suspension system is in solid working order, you won’t think about it very much, because the experience of riding along in your car will feel smooth and comfortable. It’s when things start getting bumpy and jarring that you start wondering whether something might be wrong.

 

Developing a better understanding of your shocks and struts — two critical aspects of your vehicle’s suspension system — can help you avoid this. Here’s what you need to know, including how to tell when to replace shocks and struts.

 

Your car’s suspension is responsible for absorbing and distributing energy as your car drives in such a way that your ride remains smooth, even, and comfortable every step of the way. It also helps ensure your tires stay in proper contact with the road underneath your car.

 

Shocks and struts are individual components of this suspension system, and both are shock absorbers. Both also help to support the bulk and weight of your car. However, shocks are shock absorbers and nothing else, while struts also affect the alignment of your car’s tires, as they’re part of the actual structure of the car’s suspension in addition to being shock absorbers.

 

Depending on your vehicle type, you may have any combination of these two things going on. For example, some cars only have shocks, others only have struts, and some have both.

 

Like many vehicle parts, shocks and struts aren’t indestructible. The older a vehicle is and the more it’s driven, the more wear and tear various parts will accumulate. They can also sustain damage, making shocks and struts replacement necessary. Here are a few signs you might need one.

 

One of the surest signs that you’re dealing with bad or failing shocks and struts is that you can feel every bump and dip your car drives over when you’re on the move. If the issue is bad enough, you may also sometimes have the impression that you’re about to lose control of the car after driving over a bump, small pothole, or other minor obstacle.

 

Read More: What To Do If You Hit a Curb or Pothole 

 

A pending need to replace shocks and struts isn’t necessarily the only reason a set of tires might show strange wear patterns, but it’s definitely one of the possibilities. So if you suspect a suspension issue, take a closer look at your tires. Uneven wear or wear patterns that seem strange should send you straight to your local United Tire with your vehicle.

 

Shocks and struts that are going bad or otherwise need to be serviced result in more than just riding discomfort. They can actually make your car hard to handle in ways that are quite dangerous. For example, you might feel like it’s hard to turn or like your steering mechanism is going stiff on you. Alternatively, you may notice your car lurching, diving, or otherwise feeling unstable when you brake.

 

If you have enough automotive knowledge to know where your struts are, you may be able to tell at a glance whether they’re showing wear. But if not, one of the more apparent signs that something’s off with your shocks and struts is a fluid leak, especially if you’ve also noticed one or more of the other signs on this list.

 

Another sign that you’re about due for a shocks and struts replacement is that it’s been a while since your last one. Although manufacturers’ recommendations vary from vehicle to vehicle, most cars need a new set of shocks and struts every 50,000 miles or so.

So if it’s been about that long (or you can’t remember when your last check was), schedule one with your local United Tire location to be on the safe side. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so you should always bring your ride in for an evaluation anytime anything doesn’t seem right. You could wind up glad you did. Call your nearest location or schedule online to set up your next appointment.