Suspension, Shocks and Struts

It is the system of tires, tire air, springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels and allows relative motion between the two. The design of front and rear suspension of a car may be different.

• Excessive Bouncing. Coil springs are part of your vehicle's suspension system.
• Nose Dives/Rear End Squats Dipping. 
• Tire "Cupping"  or "Shaking"
• Leaking Fluid.
• Wheel shimmy or vibration after hitting a bump.
• Suspension bottoming on rough roads or when backing out of a driveway. 

 If your car dip or rock when you go over bumps or drift around corners even at low speeds,  it may be time to replace your vehicle’s shocks or struts. 

• Can you drive a car with bad suspension? 

Never drive a car with a broken shock absorber at highway speeds and avoid sudden turns or stops; in the long run, a broken shock will need to be replaced. 

•  How do I know when my shocks need to be replaced?

When braking, if the front end of your vehicle, otherwise known as the nose, of your car dives, it is an indication that your shocks and struts need to be replaced, or at least evaluated. Another sign that your shocks or struts require service is if the rear end of your vehicle “squats” when you accelerate.

•  What is the difference between Shock and Strut  

Shocks and struts are basically the same thing, but a strut is generally larger. The basic function of a shock or strut is to keep the tire in contact with the road. With the exception of air shocks, shocks and struts do not support the weight of the vehicle. That is normally done with springs or torsion bars.