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GoinsAutoRepair.Com
Auto Care Tips
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How to Keep
Your Wheels on the Road:
What Happens
When Shocks or Struts are Worn?
Worn shocks or struts can increase wear of:
- Tires
- Ball Joints
- Steering Linkage
- Springs
- C.V. Joints
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Good vehicle maintenance can eliminate wear and tear
on under-car parts and your wallet. A vehicle with
worn shock absorbers is more vulnerable to
undercarriage damage. One severe jolt from a pot hole,
for example, can damage exhaust system brackets,
transmission pan, radiator mounts or other parts.
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On a rough, winding road the driver of a car with worn
shocks is in danger of losing control. Weak shocks or
struts permit excessive rebound of the wheels,
allowing them to become airborne. During this brief
period the tire is in the air, it loses contact with
the road surface. All steering and braking is lost.
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Rear end sag due to overload affects steering and
handling. This condition also can increase wear of
tires, suspension parts, steering linkage and drive
line components.
Air shocks, along with good
springs, help prevent rear end sag
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Signs You
May Need New Shocks or Struts:
- Roll or sway on turns.
- Front end dives when braking.
- Rear end "Squats"
when accelerating.
- Vehicle bounces or slides
sideways on a winding, rough road.
- Vehicle "bottoms
out" (with a thump)
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Preventive
Checkups
Shock absorbers and struts seldom go bad all at once.
Instead they gradually lose their ability to control
the vehicle's stability. You may be unaware of
deteriorating ride control until the condition has
become serious. For this reason it's wise to test and
inspect shocks and struts regularly.
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Things to look
for:
- Leaks on hosing
- Dents on the strut or shock
body
- Worn rubber mounting bushings
- Abnormally worn or cupped
tire tread
- Damaged or missing
compression bumpers
- Damaged or missing protective
boots
- Pitted or dented piston rod
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Purpose of
Shocks & Struts
In the true sense of the word, a shock absorber
is not a shock absorber. It's the springs, not the
shock absorbers, that absorb road shocks. If a
spring had to do this without the damping, or
controlling effects of a shock absorber, it would
continue to bound after hitting the bump. And, since
the springs support the weight of the body, the entire
vehicle would continue to bounce after a bump,
creating an unstable and uncomfortable condition.
While dampening of spring action
still is their main purpose, shock absorbers (and, on
most late model cars, "struts") also play a
vital role in of controlling a that vehicle's
handling and ride.
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NOTE: Shocks and struts
are part of the complex steering/suspension system of
the vehicle. Everything within system must
conform to specifications for satisfactory ride
control and safety.
Have wheel alignment and balance
checked periodically; inspect and rotate tires every
6,000 miles or twice a year.
If your vehicle has more than
25,000 miles on the original shock absorbers or
struts, internal parts may be worn. From that point
throughout their service life they also should be
inspected at every 6,000 miles or twice a year.
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Quality Pays
Shock absorbers cannot be repaired. When they fail they must
be replaced. For superior performance and long life, invest in
the best shocks or struts available able for your particular
needs. The Ride Control Institute recommends gas filled shocks
or struts which provide quick reaction to various road
conditions, improve handling and reduce sway.
For best control and handling of your
absorb road shocks. If a spring had to vehicle, replace shocks
or struts in pairs do this without the dampening, or in sets
of four.
Periodically your car should have a
thorough inspection by a qualified technician.
source of
information taken from doityourself.com
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