Signs of Bad Shocks and Struts

Shocks and struts are essential parts of your vehicle's suspension. There are many different types of shocks and struts, though they all serve the same basic functions.

Shocks work by absorbing excessive up-and-down bouncing or side-to-side rolling of your vehicle’s suspension through hydraulic compression. Struts work similarly, while also supporting the weight of your vehicle with a spring system. These components wear out over time, so it's important to know what signs to look for when your shocks and struts start going bad. This guide will discuss the common signs of bad shocks and struts as well as how wear and tear on these components can impact your vehicle’s safety.

If you’re still not sure what the difference is between shocks and struts, check out our shocks and struts comparison.

Symptoms of Bad Shocks and Struts

Some shocks or struts will wear out much sooner than others. When this happens, you should start noticing immediately. Here are some warning signs to be aware of along with safety concerts they may cause. If you're in the market for new shocks and struts, check out our guide on how to choose new shocks and struts.

Bumpy Ride

Without a dampener, your car’s springs won’t compress as smoothly. This means driving over a bumpy road will feel a lot rougher. You may also feel your tire “bouncing” for a while after a bump.

How This Impacts Driving at Night

Worn shocks and struts can cause like oscillations and a bouncing motion in your car. These bad shock symptoms can impact the position of the headlights, making the area of illumination in front of you inconsistent. The resulting up and down movement of the headlights can also cause “the dazzle effect”, where oncoming drivers see alternating high and low beams from the headlight. Drivers impacted by the dazzle effect will have lower visibility and be at an increased risk for an accident.

Hard to Steer

Cars with bad shocks or struts tend to be much harder to steer. As shocks and struts wear down, they lose consistency in transferring the weight of the car when you turn, leading to poor handling. If you feel like you need to insist a little more than usual with your steering wheel, you should take a look at your shocks or struts.

How This Impacts Driving in Strong Winds

Have you ever passed a truck on the highway, then got hit with a large gust of wind on the other side? Your shocks and struts can help handle lateral forces caused by strong winds like these, but worn shocks will offer less resistance. Make sure your shocks and struts are in top shape to avoid safety bad shock symptoms in windy conditions.

Front End Dives while Braking

Worn shocks and struts have less resistance against sudden forces. So when your car brakes, your front suspension will need to deform further to absorb the impact. If your car’s front end has a noticeable dip when you brake, your front struts may be toast.

How This Impacts Braking Distance

Just like with acceleration, shocks and struts help absorb the impact of deceleration and braking. Worn shocks and struts will absorb less of the force from braking, leading to increased stopping distances of up to 20% depending on your vehicle.

Rear Squats During Acceleration

Bad shocks and struts also contribute to your vehicle’s rear suspension offering less resistance when accelerating. This will cause your vehicle to “squat” in the rear when you hit the gas.

Body Roll

If your car tips to either side while you’re turning, it could be a sign of bad shocks or struts.

How This Impacts Cabin Comfort

The main job of shocks and struts is to absorb impacts. If yours are worn down, you’ll start feeling more of the bumps and divots in the road, leading to poor comfort, a shaking steering wheel, or a sore backside. Worn shocks are also prone to frequent oscillations, making your ride even less safe and enjoyable.

Abnormal Tire Wear

Worn shocks and struts are more prone to tire oscillations. When tires bounce too much, they wear in uneven patterns. “Cupping” is a specific wear pattern associated with bad shocks or struts. This crater-like wear pattern is caused by uneven pressure points from the bouncing suspension. If you ever notice this specific tire pattern, it may be a symptom of bad shocks or struts.

How This Impacts Roll Control and Handling

As shocks and struts wear, they absorb less of the force the car applies to the suspension when cornering or accelerating. These forces have to go somewhere, so your suspension may compensate by deforming the tires or putting pressure on the chassis. Both of these effects are bad for handling and control as they can lead to less reactive turns and increased risk for rolling or flipping.

Noisy Ride

Bad shocks and struts can cause squeaking and other abnormal noises. While a lot of car parts cause noise as they wear out, shocks and struts will create more noise as the terrain gets rougher.

How Often Should You Replace Shocks and Struts?

While 50,000 miles is often the recommended replacement window for shocks and struts, some last more than 50,000 miles. If you’re not experiencing any of the symptoms of bad shocks or struts, you don’t need to replace them just because you hit 50,000 miles.

What Makes Shocks and Struts Wear Out Sooner?

If you’re not quite getting 50,000 miles out of your shocks and struts, then there are a few common culprits. Bumpier roads put more stress on your shocks and struts. This is because they’re doing more work to keep your ride smooth. Poor road conditions are why you need your shocks and struts, but they can also make them break down faster.

The other major cause of shocks and struts going bad early is damage. Damage can be caused by impacts from large rocks, corrosion from road salt, or bottoming out on curbs or speed bumps. Heavier loads can also cause extra strain.

How to Check for Bad Shocks and Struts

An easy at-home test for your shocks and struts is to walk around your vehicle and push each corner towards the ground. If your suspension rebounds and wobbles, then your shock absorbers aren’t performing adequately. This is an informal test, but it is a good indicator that you might be in the market for new shocks and struts.

If your shocks and struts are bad, check out our guide on replacing your shocks and struts.