-How to Detect Wear in Your Suspension/Shocks-

Replacing your suspension and/or shocks can be a costly, annoying, time- intensive affair. Moreover, if you operate your vehicle with poor performing (or even nonperforming) suspension or shocks, you put yourself and other drivers on the road at risk and risk damaging other sensitive components of your automobile.

So what are some warning signs that it might be time to take action?

Leaking Shocks/Struts

Do you see wetness, fluid, or oil near the shock or strut? If so, that might indicate a problem.

Damaged Shocks/Struts

Maybe your mount is broken or the housing is dented. If you see even mild damage to the original equipment, consider bringing the car in for inspection. Bear in mind that the absence of visible damage does not necessarily mean that your shocks and suspension are okay, especially if it’s been a long time since you’ve had the vehicle inspected.

Been a Long Time Since You’ve Replaced Your Shocks/Struts

Typical shocks can last up to 40,000 miles or longer. But if you’ve been driving on vigorous terrain and subjecting your car to a lot of bumps, jiggles, rolls, etc., or if your vehicle has experienced mechanical problems in the past, your shocks might need to be replaced sooner.

Not Necessarily a Big “Bang”

Shocks absorb and dampen forces that emanate from the road. As they degrade and wear down, you might not notice a sudden shift in the car’s performance because ofthe gradual change in performance. It’s a little like boiling frog syndrome. If you ever saw Al Gore’s documentary An Inconvenient Truth, you might recognize this phrase. When you place a frog in boiling water, it immediately recognizes the danger and leaps to its safety. But if you place the frog in a container of cool water and slowly raise the temperature to the boiling point, the frog won’t notice the difference. The same thing could happen with your suspension and shock problems.

So, don’t wait until you metaphorically “boil to death.” Take action, and look to experienced professionals, like the team at Rock & Roll Auto Recycling, to give you advice, help you find the proper replacement parts, and ensure you pursue due diligence to keep your car in good shape.

Learn more about how we can help you with your suspension or shock problems by visiting us online at www.rockandrollautoparts.com, or call us at 888-550-9944 to talk to one of our pros about your needs and concerns.