Shocks, the commonly used term for shock absorbers, are installed to dampen some of the effects of the big leaf springs in a vehicle’s suspension system. When shocks become worn after many miles of use, a garage providing Auto Repair in Omaha NE is necessary to replace those parts. The vehicle owner will know when it’s time for replacement because noticeable symptoms start occurring.
Signs of Problems
Even when shock absorbers have 100,000 miles or more, they generally don’t need to be replaced until signs of problems develop. First, the ride may become slightly bouncy when traveling over dips in the road. Additional signs of shock absorber problems include rattling or scraping sounds when the car bounces, and uneven or abnormal wear on the tires. Mechanics recommend replacing shocks on both sides at the same time even if the problem only seems to be on one side.
Worsening Deterioration
As the problem worsens, this leads to issues with controlling the vehicle and the potential for structural damage. There may be a sense of swaying when going around corners or curves. The driver might sense that the front end lunges forward when applying the brakes. That forward movement is a safety issue because now the car takes longer to stop.
Bottoming Out
Eventually, without Auto Repair in Omaha NE, the issue becomes significant enough that the driver has to move slowly on roads to prevent the back part of the chassis from bottoming out on dips and bumps. Police officers who see this type of bouncing may pull the driver over and issue a faulty equipment ticket. The vehicle owner has the option of fixing the issue within a certain time frame or keeping the car off the road.
How Long Shocks Last
Normally, shocks last anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 miles. That variation depends partly on whether the vehicle is used for anything other than normal driving. Frequent towing of a trailer or camper, off-road driving and traveling on rough roads put more stress on the shocks. Even on smooth, paved roads, the shock absorbers move up and down continuously, and that wear and tear means they can’t last forever. Contact Dingman’s Collision Center to schedule an appointment.
