Worn shocks are a stopping problem, not a comfort problem
Shocks and struts wear so gradually that most drivers never notice. The ride gets a little softer and a little floatier over years, and it feels normal because it changed so slowly. That is why worn dampers are usually thought of as a comfort issue.
Their real job is keeping the tires pressed onto the road. A tire that is bouncing, even slightly, is not gripping during the part of the bounce when it is light. On a smooth dry road that hardly matters. On a rough or icy one, under hard braking, it can add real distance to a stop and make the vehicle harder to control.
A few checks you can do yourself
- The nose dive. Under firm braking, the front end drops sharply toward the road.
- The float. After a dip or a bump, the vehicle keeps moving up and down instead of settling at once.
- The tires. Patchy, scalloped wear around the tread, sometimes called cupping.
- The load. A pickup that sags noticeably at the rear with a normal load, or bottoms out over bumps.
Any of those is a reason to have the suspension inspected. A pickup that regularly carries weight or tows is worth checking sooner than the same truck driven empty.
What else it affects
Worn suspension wears tires and upsets alignment, and a vehicle with a soft front end leans harder on its brakes. Both are at this store. The national suspension repair page covers the clunks, pulls and wander that point to worn parts.
About this store
The Reno store runs eighteen services and is managed by Fred Sinfellow.
See the national suspension repair page for all 34 locations.