Today’s vehicles are equipped with struts, shocks or a combination of the two. The purpose of a shock or strut is not only to help keep the feeling of the road from transferring through the vehicle but also to maintain proper handling and safety of the vehicle. Shocks and struts can also be used to tie two pieces of a vehicle suspension together that must be allowed to move in two given directions, such as a lower control arm or front/rear axles. Shocks are most commonly found in todays pick-ups while struts are typically found all the way around on passenger cars and mini-vans.

The most common form of strut in an automobile is the MacPherson Strut. The MacPherson strut combines a shock absorber and a spring in a single unit, by means of which each wheel is attached to the car body.

Shocks and struts, while working in correct fashion, keep safety and mechanical components within specification. An oil and air charged shock or strut prevents body roll, weight transfer, excessive coil oscillation, wheel hop, and noise from the suspension.

Shocks and struts should be replaced for more than just one reason. Some of the common failures of a shock or strut can be as simple as the shock being “blown out” where the oil that is charged into the shock is leaking down the side. Once this is happening the shock or strut can not hold its pressure. The largest reason for replacement is an investment into your personal vehicle. If you plan on keeping your vehicle for an extended period of time and wondering what you can do to help keep some of the constant repair bills down, replacement of these items can help. Shocks and struts help support the longevity of other items not even considered with a suspension system such as brakes, tie rod ends, ball joins and, most of all, tires.

Aftermarket shocks and struts are the most common replacement on today’s vehicles. Some of the more common manufacturers are Monroe and KYB, who recommend replacement of your shocks and/or struts every 50,000 miles to ensure proper safety and handling of your vehicle.

Some frequently asked questions about shocks and struts:

1.      I don’t hear them clunking or banging; why should I replace them?

A.     Just like your tires and brakes, shocks and struts wear out. Although the wear commonly goes unnoticed noticed over the long period of time that the shocks wear, a dramatic improvement will be noticed when these worn parts are replaced and the vehicle drives the way it should again. Once replaced, people gain a better understanding of the braking and handling performance their vehicle once had.

2.      What kind of benefits would I get replacing them?

A.     Some of the benefits include:

                                                               i.      Restored responsiveness of handling

                                                             ii.      Restored factory ride quality and braking power

                                                            iii.      Restored handling, keeping tires in constant contact with the road even while in corners or over bumps in the road.

Most of the shocks and struts replaced at TireProz come with a lifetime warranty. 50,000 miles after your original replacement, if you don’t feel like your shocks or struts are up to par, you can bring your vehicle back and receive new shocks or struts for free.