Don’t let bad shocks shock you with additional repair costs

It’s shocking to imagine a drive in your car without a suspension system. Every bump and crack in the road would transfer from the chassis and up the passenger’s spines. But, more than a matter of comfort, properly functioning shock absorbers save wear and tear on your vehicle while making the driving experience safer.

Have you ever hit a really bad pothole and felt the steering wheel jerk in your hands? Imagine trying to hang onto that wheel, and control the car, if there was no suspension to absorb the shock. On the other hand, as shock absorbers wear, they generally cause the opposite problem. The suspension becomes increasingly sloppy and the steering is affected in the process.

Still, comfort is the number one reason people change their shocks or struts, depending on which your vehicle is equipped with. Shocks and struts don’t need changing based on a maintenance schedule. Rather, their life expectancy is related to the kind of driving you do.

“With most cars, the shocks and struts will last quite a while,” said Denny Norton, owner of Ringwood based Performance Unlimited at 5415 Austin Court. “The best bet is to have them checked out from time to time. Of course, if you feel the suspension getting a bit squishy, you may want to have them looked at. Otherwise, you can ask your mechanic to take a look when you have your oil changed.”

Badly worn shocks also affect the way your tires wear and can cause additional wear to your steering and other suspension parts. In other words, if the shocks are no longer doing their job the way they used to, it’s time to change them before you find yourself changing other expensive steering and suspension parts, as well.

One quick test you can give the car yourself is to press and hold a corner of the car down. When you release it, the car will jump up again and bounce a couple of times. If the bouncing continues more than that there’s a good chance you’re in need of new shocks or struts.

For more information about Performance Unlimited, visit www.4performanceunliimited.comor call 815-728-0343.

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