
If you're driving and your vehicle feels like it's doing the hokey pokey, don't worry! It's probably just time for a new set of shocks or struts. Here are some tell-tale signs that your vehicle needs a strut or shock replacement:
Car shocks and struts have different jobs, though we often use the terms interchangeably. In technical language, while shocks and struts perform the same basic function of damping the movement of your vehicle's spring and stopping oscillation and bounce, they are actually two different suspension components with distinct functions.
Shocks, or shock absorbers, are the part of your vehicle that help it move smoothly over bumps and rough terrain. They help keep the wheels in contact with the ground, which is important for keeping you safe in case you need to stop quickly or change lanes on a highway.
Shock absorbers are located between the frame of your vehicle and the wheels. They cushion the impact from bumps in the road by absorbing some of their energy before it reaches your vehicle's body or suspension.
Struts are an assembly which combines multiple suspension parts into a compact unit used in the front ends of nearly all cars. Struts include shock absorbers, which are their most commonly serviced component.
Struts help reduce bounce and sway in your vehicle's suspension by controlling the up-and-down movement of your tires. They also help vehicles to handle better on rough roads, providing stability when you corner or brake by absorbing some of the impact energy generated by these actions. They are essential for supporting your vehicle's weight while it travels down the road - without them, it would feel like you were driving around in an empty cardboard box!