6 Signs Your Vehicle Shocks or Struts Need To Be Replaced
Your Volkswagen has either shock absorbers, struts, or both. These components keep the springs that support your vehicle from bouncing too much as you move over bumps and holes in the road. However, they can go bad over time, and will need to be replaced in order to keep your vehicle safe. At Archer Volkswagen, we want to help you get the most out of your VW, which is why we've put together this list of 6 signs that your shocks or struts might need to be replaced.
6. Unusual Motion When Applying Brakes
If your shocks or struts are bad and you hit the brakes, you might notice that your car begins to lurch or nosedive. A sharp dive like this may become more noticeable if you have to brake hard, but can sometimes be observed in regular braking if the shocks are in bad enough condition. You may also notice that your car takes longer than usual to come to a stop.
5. Vibrating Steering Wheel
There are many things that could cause a steering wheel to vibrate. However, when it's due to the shocks, the steering wheel may begin to vibrate even more intensely as you hit higher speeds. As you can guess, this can put you in danger as you struggle to control your fast-moving vehicle.
4. Body Roll/Lean
When you're turning corners, shocks or struts help you avoid body roll. If you feel like your car leans when you turn, it may be because these parts have a problem. This isn't just uncomfortable; it can be downright dangerous. Your ability to steer well may be compromised if your car leans excessively, and your balance may be negatively affected. It's important to note that some body roll is normal, particularly for vehicles that are more comfort-oriented.
3. Fluid Leak
Shock absorbers contain hydraulic fluid (even gas-powered shocks). Leaking shock absorbers could eventually cause the shocks to stop working as they should. While you can look for fluid on the outside of the shock absorbers, this is a type of inspection that's generally best left to technicians. They may be able to see things that are easy to overlook.
2. Unusual Tire Wear
Tires wear down eventually. Ideally, the tires should wear down evenly. However, bad shocks could cause a particular kind of wear called cupping or scalloping. Where normal wear happens all around the wheel, cupping means that there are patches of wear at intervals around the tire. Wear like whis is due to the tire not properly staying in contact with the road due to bad shocks.
1. A Bouncy Ride
Different vehicles have different ride styles. Cars that are more oriented towards comfort will often have a relatively smooth ride, while sport-oriented cars will have a ride quality that lets you feel bumps more. However, a bouncy ride is something that you shouldn't be experiencing. Not sure whether your ride is bouncy or you're just overthinking things? A good way to test it is to push down on the corners of your vehicle (one at a time, of course) and then let go. If the vehicle doesn't just bounce up, but bounces a few more times, you're likely to need shock repairs. But even this test isn't a sure thing, which is why we recommend having your shocks inspected if you're uncertain.
