How to know when shocks are worn

Knocking Sound: When you head over some bumps in the road, especially potholes, speed bumps, things like that and you hear a metallic knocking sound then that’s a good sign that your shocks are worn out.

Bad shocks can affect your braking.

Being able to brake smoothly and accurately is essential for safe driving. When your shocks are bad, however, they can make it harder for you to effectively brake. The more your shocks are worn out, the longer it will take your vehicle to come to a complete stop.

A typical shock and strut replacement can set you back anywhere between $450 and $1,100 on parts and labor combined. An individual shock and strut assembly costs around $150 to $900, while estimated labor costs for replacing a shock and strut assembly can range anywhere from $150 to $300 per assembly.

Finally, replace your struts and shocks in pairs

Shocks and struts should always be replaced in pairs or, better yet, all four, for even, predictable handling and control. After all, all four have been on the vehicle for the same number of miles and worked under the same conditions.

The most difficult part of the job is removing the old shocks, which can have a tendency to be really gunky with both age and road-grit, making the bushings and bolts somewhat difficult to remove.

The general recommendation is that shocks and struts should be replaced every 50,000 to 100,000 miles.

Shocks and struts help keep the vehicle stable during acceleration and braking. The customer may think that new shocks and struts will simply make their ride smoother, but the truth is that new shocks and struts can do a whole lot more. New shocks and struts can make a vehicle corner and brake like when it was new.

In general, you don’t need an alignment done after replacing shocks on a vehicle with the older style front suspension typically found on rear wheel drive vehicles.

Worn shocks and struts can have a detrimental effect on steering, stopping and the stability of your vehicle. As shocks wear, they can lose their ability to control the rate of weight transfer when going around corners; this may also result in increased steering input to navigate turns.

Other signs of car shocks and struts in bad condition are unusual noises over bumps, excessive body lean or sway in turns, or that the front end of the vehicle dives sharply in hard braking. Bad shocks also can affect steering control and cause uneven tire wear.

The entire weight of an automobile frame and body is suspended above the wheels by springs. Shock absorbers limit such flexing and restrict other spring qualities that can adversely affect the steering of a vehicle.

Tough Steering

You might be surprised to know that what causes poor steering may have nothing to do with the power steering system. Your steering system is a part of the suspension system, just as your struts and shocks. When worn, the steering wheel may become stiff making turning a difficult task.

Overall Driving/Riding Comfort

When shocks and struts are going bad, you’ll feel more vibrations, and going over bumps can make your car feel like it’s about to take flight.

There are two negatives to riding on worn-out struts or automotive shocks: Safety: Worn struts result in longer stopping times and/or distances as the vehicle weight can shift (sometimes unexpectedly) during braking. This also negatively affects your ability to stay in control of your vehicle.

Yes, it is possible to drive having bad struts. A vehicle with worn-out struts can still work and ride you here and there, but you have to be really cautious and vigilant. It will obviously be a bumpy ride, but you can drive in a car with bad struts.