How do you know if your struts are going bad?
If you're asking the question How do you know if your struts are going bad, then chances are that you already suspect there's some kind of problem with your car. While Car struts play a big role, they're not as visible as many other parts, so the warning signs may not be immediately obvious. Bad ones can impact your car's shocks and other vital components over time.
How Do You Know If Your Struts Are Going Bad Or Failing?
Since your struts are such an important part of your vehicle's suspension, you'll normally notice a few signs that demonstrate the fact that they're going bad. Here are some of the most common you're likely to see:
- Shaking - A rough or unstable ride is often a clear sign of bad struts. Your vehicle may start to feel unstable when you accelerate to highway speeds, or it might even shake when you hit relatively minor bumps.
- Poor Steering - Depending on how bad your struts are, you may feel that your car's steering is either too loose or too stiff. There's a good possibility that you'll find it hard to control, especially when you're going around turns.
- Bouncing Up and Down - See if your car bounces excessively whenever you go over a bump or a pothole. This could be a sign that you're riding on worn-out struts.
- Strange Noises - Worn-out struts may make knocking and clunking sounds whenever you go on rougher roads or drive over a bump.
- Hydraulic Fluid Leaks - Any amount of hydraulic fluid leaking out from the body of your struts could be an indication that they're failing.
- Unevenly Worn Tires - Failing struts can cause your tires to experience uneven tread wear. You may see signs of cupping or possibly some bald spots.
- Diving and Squatting - Some drivers may find that the front end dips sharply whenever they brake, which is known as a nose-dive. The rear of their vehicle could squat down whenever they hit the gas as well. Either of these is a clear sign that there's something wrong with their struts.
Any of these symptoms could be a sign that something is seriously wrong. If you've noticed more than one, then you should get your suspension looked at by a professional mechanic. Driving on a bad set of struts is uncomfortable and could be unsafe. In fact, it might even affect other parts of your car.
Why Bad Struts Affect Other Parts Of Your Car?
By definition, your struts actually include your car shocks. A strut is nothing more than your shocks, coil springs, mounts, and bearings all put together. When the body of your strut begins to fail, it puts additional stress on the other equipment it's attached to. Every single time you drive over a bump or pothole with bad struts, you'll be doing more damage, so it's important to have your car looked at the moment you suspect something is wrong.
Wondering how do you know if your struts are going bad? Contact our ASE-certified technicians at Express Auto Service & Repair for more information about car shocks and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop serves vehicle owners in Mankato, MN, and the neighboring communities of North Mankato, MN, New Ulm, MN, and St. Peter, MN.
If you're asking the question How do you know if your struts are going bad, then chances are that you already suspect there's some kind of problem with your car. While Car struts play a big role, they're not as visible as many other parts, so the warning signs may not be immediately obvious. Bad ones can impact your car's shocks and other vital components over time.
How Do You Know If Your Struts Are Going Bad Or Failing?
Since your struts are such an important part of your vehicle's suspension, you'll normally notice a few signs that demonstrate the fact that they're going bad. Here are some of the most common you're likely to see:
- Shaking - A rough or unstable ride is often a clear sign of bad struts. Your vehicle may start to feel unstable when you accelerate to highway speeds, or it might even shake when you hit relatively minor bumps.
- Poor Steering - Depending on how bad your struts are, you may feel that your car's steering is either too loose or too stiff. There's a good possibility that you'll find it hard to control, especially when you're going around turns.
- Bouncing Up and Down - See if your car bounces excessively whenever you go over a bump or a pothole. This could be a sign that you're riding on worn-out struts.
- Strange Noises - Worn-out struts may make knocking and clunking sounds whenever you go on rougher roads or drive over a bump.
- Hydraulic Fluid Leaks - Any amount of hydraulic fluid leaking out from the body of your struts could be an indication that they're failing.
- Unevenly Worn Tires - Failing struts can cause your tires to experience uneven tread wear. You may see signs of cupping or possibly some bald spots.
- Diving and Squatting - Some drivers may find that the front end dips sharply whenever they brake, which is known as a nose-dive. The rear of their vehicle could squat down whenever they hit the gas as well. Either of these is a clear sign that there's something wrong with their struts.
Any of these symptoms could be a sign that something is seriously wrong. If you've noticed more than one, then you should get your suspension looked at by a professional mechanic. Driving on a bad set of struts is uncomfortable and could be unsafe. In fact, it might even affect other parts of your car.
Why Bad Struts Affect Other Parts Of Your Car?
By definition, your struts actually include your car shocks. A strut is nothing more than your shocks, coil springs, mounts, and bearings all put together. When the body of your strut begins to fail, it puts additional stress on the other equipment it's attached to. Every single time you drive over a bump or pothole with bad struts, you'll be doing more damage, so it's important to have your car looked at the moment you suspect something is wrong.
Wondering how do you know if your struts are going bad? Contact our ASE-certified technicians at Express Auto Service & Repair for more information about car shocks and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop serves vehicle owners in Mankato, MN, and the neighboring communities of North Mankato, MN, New Ulm, MN, and St. Peter, MN.
