What they do
Your springs hold the vehicle up. Shocks and struts keep it from bouncing. A strut is a shock that's also part of the suspension's structure, holding the spring and affecting your alignment.
Common symptoms
- The vehicle keeps bouncing after bumps or dips
- The nose dives hard when you brake
- Lots of lean or sway in turns and lane changes
- Fluid leaking down the outside of a shock or strut
- Clunking over bumps from worn mounts
- Cupped or scalloped wear on the tires
What to look for
- Look for leaks: oily fluid running down the body of a shock or strut, or dripping, means it has failed.
- Check the mounts: cracked rubber at the top mount or a bent shaft are signs of failure.
- Road test: drive over a bump you know well and see if the vehicle settles right away. In a safe, empty lot, brake firmly and watch whether the nose bounces at the end of the stop.
- Skip the fender push: pushing down on a corner only catches shocks that are completely gone. A road test tells you more.
Could be something else
Clunks are often sway bar links or ball joints. Bouncing can be made worse by low tire pressure, so check that first.
Is it safe to drive?
Worn shocks and struts aren't an emergency like a bad ball joint, but they give you less control over bumps and when braking, especially on rough or slick roads. Replacing struts changes your alignment, so plan on an alignment afterward.
Related: Bad sway bar link symptoms · Bad control arm bushings
Think it's your struts or shocks? Northwoods can check it right where your vehicle sits, anywhere in the greater Twin Ports area.