Follow the Bouncing Vehicle (Bad Struts and Shocks)
December 26, 2021
If you hit a bump in the road and your vehicle just keeps bouncing up and down for a lot longer time than it used to, you may have bad struts and shocks. They're the things that help to keep your vehicle's wheels and tires planted to the road surface.
But they don't last forever. With care and depending on where and how you drive, shocks and struts should be replaced at intervals ranging from 50,000 miles/80,000 km to 100,000 miles/160,000 km. If you drive on bumpy roads with a lot of potholes, that interval will likely be shorter. Rough surfaces can take their toll.
But how do you know if your shocks and struts are doing their job properly? The best way is to have your vehicle checked by a technician. He or she can inspect the shock absorbers and struts for leaks, corrosion and damage. Mounts and bushings can also go bad and they should be evaluated as well. A thorough examination by a technician will also include looking at other suspension parts. Some may contribute to making your vehicle behave the same way if they're broken, corroded, worn or bent.
If you need new shocks and struts, your service advisor will make sure that you get those that meet manufacturer's specifications. That's important because they want to make sure you're getting the handling and performance engineers designed your vehicle to have.
Sterling Tire & Auto
34701 Van Dyke Rd
Sterling Heights, Michigan 48312
586-264-7775
Need Service?
More articles from Sterling Tire & Auto
(Ball Joint Replacement)
November 2, 2025
Every day that goes by, our bodies get a little more wear and tear on them. Our vehicles have the same issue. The older we get and the farther we travel, certain parts start showing some wear. Think of your hips. There are parts of our vehicles that are similar to them; just like hips allow y... More
No Fuel-ing! (Fuel Filter Replacement)
October 27, 2025
Your vehicle has a few filters you might be somewhat familiar with. Theres the oil filter that removes impurities from your engines oil, and a couple of different kinds of air filters that prevent contaminants from getting into the engine and the cabin. But you may not know that your vehicle als... More
Smooth Operator (Shock Absorbers)
October 23, 2025
When you are comfortably headed down the road, you may not realize how many of the imperfections in the driving surface are being smoothed out, so you hardly feel most of them. You can thank your shock absorbers for a lot of that comfort, and its important to make sure you keep your shocks in go... More