You can expect to get about 50,000 miles to 100,000 miles out of your car, truck, or utility vehicle’s struts. Your automobile may have struts on all four wheels or just on the front wheels. If you have shocks on the rear wheels, they tend to last about the same time.
Uncomfortable Ride
The struts absorb the uneven pavement and bumps in the road for a comfortable ride. If the struts are going bad, you will notice that your vehicle bounces much more than it has in the past. You can test if the struts have gone bad by parking your automobile on a level surface and setting the parking brake. Next, stand in front of the car and press down on the hood several times to start bouncing. Release the hood and count how many times it continues to bounce. If it bounces three or more times, the struts are bad. Do the same for the rear wheels by pressing down on the trunk.
Momentum Movement
The struts also prevent your vehicle’s body from responding to your driving. For example, if you did not have struts on the wheels, your vehicle’s body would lurch forward when you press down on the brake pedal. It would also lean backward when you press down on the accelerator. In addition, the body would lean to the side when you navigate corners. This motion is called momentum movement, and the struts (and shocks) prevent this movement. If your automobile’s body is suddenly responding to your vehicle’s momentum, head straight to our shop so we can install new struts.
Greasy/Oily Struts
Finally, you should not feel grease or oil if you reach up behind the wheels and touch the struts. If the struts feel greasy or oily, they are leaking. Consequently, this means the struts need replacement. Leaking struts are also a sign that the struts are too old.
We would be happy to help, so call us today to schedule a service visit for a suspension inspection. We will inspect the struts and replace them if worn or leaking.