| Shocks and struts do not require replacing at | | | | rocking and releasing the bumper or body, your |
| specific mileage intervals like filters or spark plugs, | | | | shocks or struts are showing their age and need |
| but they do wear out and eventually have to be | | | | to be replaced. |
| replaced. | | | | This easy bounce test is just that, bouncing on |
| When these parts wear out over time they can | | | | the front of the vehicle and watching to find out |
| cause a rattle or a thump noise because the strut | | | | how many times the vehicle bounces up and |
| is coming in contact with the body of the vehicle | | | | down before the bouncing stops. Too much |
| since this sustaining mount has disintegrated and is | | | | bouncing indicates worn struts and shocks. |
| not cushioning the strut anymore. | | | | Basically, what you need to do is bounce the car |
| You need new shocks (and/or struts) if your | | | | up and down using your body weight a couple of |
| original shocks (or struts) are worn out, damaged | | | | times. When you discontinue bouncing and free |
| or leaking. Leaking is easy enough to see (just | | | | the car, it should level off after one stroke. After |
| look for oil or wetness on the outside of the | | | | releasing the vehicle, it ought to bounce one time |
| shock or strut) as is damage (broken mount, | | | | and should come back to a level stand. If it |
| badly dented housing, etc.). But wear is often | | | | continues to bounce after you let go more than |
| more of a subjective thing to judge. | | | | one rebound act, then it shows the shocks needs |
| When exactly a shock or strut needs to be | | | | to be changed. So that's how to tell when |
| replaced is difficult to say. Since the damping | | | | automotive shock absorbers should be replaced. |
| characteristics of shocks and struts decline | | | | Shocks are a popular do-it-yourself item on most |
| gradually over time, the decline in drive control | | | | vehicles because they are fairly easy to replace |
| often passes unobserved. So by the time you | | | | and are generally replaced in pairs -- though this |
| think you need new shocks or struts; it may be | | | | isn't very necessary if only one shock or strut is |
| too late. | | | | leaking or has suffered damage at a low mileage. . |
| One way to determine if you need new shocks | | | | But struts are not. Most struts require a fair |
| or struts is to consider how your vehicle has been | | | | amount of suspension disassembly as What's |
| managing and riding lately. Does it bounce | | | | more, the wheels must usually be realigned after |
| excessively when driving on rough roads or when | | | | replacing a strut. For this reason, you're probably |
| hitting a bump? Does the nose dip when braking? | | | | better off letting a professional replace your |
| Does the body sway excessively when cornering? | | | | struts. |
| Does the suspension bottom out when carrying | | | | Make sure they take a test drive with you and |
| extra passengers or weight? | | | | hear the same sound you do. You want to make |
| There's also an effortless test that can be | | | | sure the work order you sign states the |
| performed that will determine when your shocks | | | | complaint properly not just "replace struts". You |
| need to be replaced. A "bounce test" is a suitable | | | | do this in case the noise is still present after the |
| means of checking the dampening power of | | | | repairs so that you have it in writing what your |
| shocks and struts. If the suspension continues to | | | | original complaint was. |
| gyrate more than one or two times following | | | | |