When to Replace Shocks or Struts

If you’ve ever ridden on a boat through choppy waters, you know how unpleasant the ride can be. That’s because there is little to help absorb the impacts from heavy waves crashing against the hull. The road can have a similar effect on your vehicle without reliable shocks and struts to insulate your ride. But when do you know when it’s time to replace your shocks or struts?

It’s recommended to have your shocks and struts checked at 50,000 miles. But there are other tale-tell signs you should look out for that indicate the need to replace your shocks or struts:

• Uneven wear on your tires
• Poor steering
• The vehicle sways or leans when you change lanes
• Visible damage to the shock
• Visible wear or cracking on mounts
• Leaking shocks

So what exactly are shocks and struts? Shocks actually absorb shocks from the road and keep your car from bouncing. Struts are a structural part of the suspension system, they provide a place to mount the coil springs and maintain the height of the vehicle. Broken struts can affect your steering and the safety of your vehicle. Replacing a bad shock can be a fairly simple repair. Struts, however, can be more involved. If you’re wondering how much replacing shocks and struts might be, please check our Repair Estimator.

If you have any concerns about your shocks and struts, stop into your local NAPA AutoCare location. We can take a look at them for you and recommend appropriate service.

Posted May 26th, 2016