Shocks & Struts

When shock absorbers or struts go bad, it’s irritating and annoying. You want your car to ride smooth, not feel as if you’re driving over waves.

The job of shock absorbers or struts, whichever your car has, is to prevent your car from bouncing at every impact. It’s easy to spot a car that is desperate for shock absorber or strut repair, and as funny as the vehicle may look bouncing up and down, operating a vehicle that needs shock absorbers or struts is actually quite dangerous.

SHOCK ABSORBERS AND STRUTS – WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE

Shock absorbers and struts are usually mentioned in the same sentence because, as noted above, they help keep the car from bouncing. How they perform that broad function is where the differences begin.

By taking off one of your vehicle’s tires, you’ll be able to see which component your particular car uses. A strut is surrounded by a giant coiled spring. This spring winds around the strut to support the weight of the vehicle and helps to stabilize the height of the vehicle during movement.

The shock absorber system does not have any springs connected – it is simply a shock absorber. It has nothing to do with the weight of the vehicle and its only function is to keep the car from bouncing. Cars with shocks will still have springs but those springs will be mounted somewhere away from the shock itself.

A vehicle will only utilize one of these systems. So, your vehicle either has struts or shocks.

When we prepare to repair shock absorbers or struts, customers will ask, “How long will these last on my vehicle?” Services like having your brake pads replaced will come with a fairly standard average lifespan, shock absorbers and struts are much different.

The lifespan of struts or shocks greatly depends on how a vehicle has been driven, the roads the vehicle drives on, and of course in conjunction with the quality of the parts themselves. It’s nearly impossible to assign a mileage or number of years to what you should expect from your shocks or struts because every driver is different – along with the roads they drive on.

In Arizona, we’re used to newer, smoother roads most of the time. When you take a trip, you quickly realize that well-kept roads are not the norm. Some roads present a much harder terrain and create more strain on your vehicle.

Aside from the condition of the roads themselves, how each person drives will impact the lifespan.

Do you take speed bumps slowly or do you pass over them quickly?

Are you looking to avoid potholes or cracks in the road or do you tend to only make adjustments in your driving when presented with larger obstructions?

Do you frequently take routes on rougher terrain or even dirt terrain which is rocky?

Each driver’s answers will vary, as will the shocks and struts lifespan along with it.

Unlike an oil change, using mileage and age is a very difficult gauge of your shock system’s health. The best way to determine the condition of your shocks or struts is to have your vehicle inspected by a technician. An auto professional can take note of how the car performs on the road with a test drive and will perform an inspection of the actual parts to determine their current state.

Aside from having your vehicle inspected by a professional, you can perform an at-home test which could be helpful if you suspect that you have an issue. Walk around your car stopping at each corner. Press down on the corner of the vehicle and release. As the vehicle comes back up it should reach the center of gravity and stop moving. If the vehicle continues to bounce up and down, you may have a shock or strut repair issue that you want to have inspected by a professional technician.

Auto repair shops like Rob’s Auto Repair perform this type of service regularly. That being the case, we can typically repair and replace a strut or shock system in approximately 60 minutes for each corner of the car.

One conversation topic that comes up regularly when performing this repair on the front or rear portion of the vehicle is that they should be replaced in pairs. It is not uncommon for a mechanic to say, “The rear right strut is bad so we’re recommending that you replace the rear struts.” When a new part is installed it will perform better than the remaining older parts and will lead to unevenness in your drive. There are occasions on newer vehicles where replacing only one is acceptable and our team of technicians will talk through that scenario with you, should it be an option.

The only way an auto repair shop can give you an accurate quote is by seeing the vehicle. For instance, you may only be experiencing ‘bouncing’ in one area on the vehicle, yet, the length of time driven on a bad strut or shock can actually cause damage to the remaining ‘good’ parts.

The make, model and year of your vehicle are also big factors. A general rule of thumb is that luxury or high-performance vehicles will typically require more expensive parts and more labor than economic vehicles. However, that’s not always the case, so bring your vehicle in to Rob’s Auto Repair Tempe and we will provide you with the most accurate estimate possible!

Schedule an Appointment to Have your Shocks and Struts Replaced.

When you start to suspect a difference in the way your vehicle handles – and you will notice a difference – it is important to diagnose quickly to determine current damages and if driving will cause more. Even though it is common to spot vehicles on the road bouncing, it isn’t advisable to continue driving as you normally would when your car’s handling begins to deteriorate.

We routinely take phone calls asking us to provide an estimate on the strut and shock repair before we see the vehicle. Cost will always play a big part in choosing an auto repair shop and we understand this so will always can give an estimate, but to really give you an accurate quote we need to inspect your vehicle. This allows us to give you the most accurate quote which can’t be done without inspecting the vehicle first.

Scheduling an appointment to have your struts or shocks inspected is as easy as calling our shop directly at (480) 427-2655. We will work to find a time that is the best fit for you and your schedule!

Of course, you’re always welcome to walk-in. We treat walk-ins with just as much importance as appointments, however, there may be a bit longer wait before we can see your vehicle – it just depends on how busy we are that day.