Your car’s shocks absorb the shock of every bump in the road and keep your ride smooth, but eventually, they wear out. Here are four warning signs that your shocks are failing and that you need to replace them immediately.
1) Uneven and Frequent Tire Wear
One of the most common and earliest signs of car trouble is uneven or frequent tire wear. If your shocks are beginning to fail, they will no longer be able to properly support the weight of your car, causing your tires to wear down unevenly. You may also notice that you must replace your tires more frequently than usual.
2) Body Roll
When your car starts to experience body roll, it’s a clear sign that the shocks are beginning to fail. This is because the shocks can no longer keep the body of the car level with the ground, causing it to lean to one side or the other. If you notice this, it’s time to get your shocks checked out by a professional.
3) Noisy Ride
A noisy ride is one of the first and most noticeable signs that your car’s shocks are failing. If you hear banging, rattling, or squealing when driving over bumps, it’s time to get your shocks checked. Sometimes, this noise can be caused by a bad axle bearing, so you’ll want to have that looked at too. However, if you notice unusual noise in conjunction with other common signs of failing shocks, including excessive tire wear on one side (also from misaligned tires), extreme body lean in turns, and hard bottoming out on rough roads. In that case, you should see your trusted mechanic right away.
4) Front-End Dives
Finally, our last sign of failing shocks is excessive diving of the vehicle’s front end, especially during hard braking. This occurs because the shock absorbers have lost their ability to absorb the force created by the car’s weight being decelerated quickly. The same applies if the car’s rear end dives excessively if you accelerate quickly. Shock repairs are not the most common car repair that most mechanics see, but they can wear out and stop working correctly over time.
Your car’s shock absorbers are an essential component of your car’s suspension system. In addition, your car’s suspension system works hand-in-hand with its steering system, so problems in one of these systems can lead to problems in the other. If you notice any of the signs of failing shocks, don’t ignore them; instead, see a car care professional immediately.