How Do I Know It’s Time to Replace My Struts or Shock Absorbers?

If your car bounces like it’s on a pogo stick or bottoms out over railroad tracks, it’s probably because of worn shock absorbers or struts (“shocks” that are mounted inside coil springs on strut-type suspensions). Worn shocks can also allow excessive body lean. Shocks are “dampers” that manage how much a car bounces on its springs, which absorb most road shock. Worn shocks can leak the fluid that helps reduce bouncing, or they can be damaged by potholes or by hitting road debris. Mounting hardware and bushings can also wear, allowing excessive suspension movement, vibrations or noises.