When To Replace Your Shocks

Owners should never disregard the importance of timely repairs. Not changing the engine coolant could lead to a dead engine, while squeaky old brakes may show signs of degradation and lead to road accidents if not addressed. 

The same goes for suspension. It is one if not the most essential part of your vehicle, as it helps absorb energy from kinetic impacts and helps your tires stay on track. If something happens to it, consequences will follow shortly and leave you with quite a financial headache. 

This article will talk about one part of your car’s suspension, the shocks. We will explain what the suspension does, talk about your shocks’ functions, and tell you when you should change them. 

What Does The Suspension Do?

Suspension is a protective layer of shock-absorbing components such as springs and dampers. It helps ensure that your drive is safe and smooth by absorbing the energy from various road bumps and other kinetic impacts. The suspension also ensures that your tires stay on the road and increases friction. 

The suspension consists of two main parts: springs and shocks. The first helps control the height and load of the suspension and cabin, while the latter absorbs kinetic energy impulses that your tires transmit on road contact. 

If you were to drive without one, all kinetic impact would transfer directly to your vehicle’s frame. It would make driving difficult and uncomfortable at best and may result in road accidents as the car would lose its grip due to tires jumping up and down. 

What Do The Shocks Do?

As we mentioned previously, shocks keep the springing movement of your car to a minimum, stopping oscillation and bounce. They are an essential part of your suspension and keep the underside of your vehicle whole, preventing any possible damage. It should be effortless to handle your car if they work correctly, while the wheels themselves should be appropriately aligned in this case.

More often than not, most people confuse struts with shocks. It is easy to do as they both serve shock-absorbing purposes. However, struts have multiple roles and are a structural element of your vehicle, directly responsible for wheel alignment. 

Struts and shocks have nothing to do with each other, and your vehicle can never have both. So, if a mechanic tries to convince you otherwise, find someone else to do the replacement. 

Signs That Your Vehicle Needs New Shocks

If you find your vehicle difficult to handle at some point, your shocks are at fault. This spells trouble in more ways than one. For instance, you could completely lose control over a bump on the road, which puts your passengers at risk. 

Shocks don’t go out all at once; they slowly degrade over time. Depending on what kind of driver you are, you should wear out every 50,000-100,000 miles. That is unless you don’t encounter any sort of tell-tale signs that may require you to go about replacing them quicker. These may include:

• Bumpy ride. This is the most obvious sign. If you can feel each bump on the road and the ride has become uncomfortable, it’s time to spring into action. 

• Steering problems. If shocks are faulty or worn out, the steering wheel feels stiff or hard to turn. You may even feel like your car is swaying or leaning when you take a turn or switch lanes. 

• Braking issues. Here, the problem is that your car feels unstable or takes nose dives, lurching forward when you step on the brake pedal. 

• Fluid leaks. Leaked fluid on the exterior of shocks is a sign that something is off. If they don’t have enough fluid, they’ll provide no impact absorption.

• Uneven tread wear. When your suspension and wheel alignment is off, your tires will experience uneven tread wear, and it will look different than when they are aging. Suspension damage could cause scalloped dips (“cups”) to develop around the edge of the tread, potentially putting you in harm’s way.

Summary

Your shocks play a key role in car handling. If you encounter any of these issues, consider visiting a mechanic as soon as possible. Other than that, stay on top of your maintenance and vehicle repairs, and don’t forget to stay informed. 

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