What Happens if You Don’t Replace Bad Struts?

Because it’s not necessary to replace automotive shocks or struts at specific mileage intervals, knowing how to identify the warning symptoms of bad struts and shocks is vital to your driving safety. Shocks and struts wear out over time as your vehicle accumulates mileage. When they fail, the results can be dangerous. Replacing shocks and struts can improve stopping performance as well as increase vehicle stability and driver control.

What keeps your vehicle balanced and connected to the road? It’s the car struts or shocks! The components of the steering and suspension systems all work together to keep your ride smooth and safe. But they do wear out over time as the miles accumulate on your vehicle.

The life span of shocks and struts will depend a great deal on how and where you drive. If you consistently travel over bumpy streets and adverse road conditions, then these parts will wear faster than if you drive just short distances every day.

So what happens if you don’t replace bad struts? There are two negatives to riding on worn-out struts or automotive shocks:

1. Safety: Worn struts result in longer stopping times and/or distances as the vehicle weight can shift (sometimes unexpectedly) during braking. This also negatively affects your ability to stay in control of your vehicle.
2. Wear on other parts: Driving with bad struts accelerates the wear on tires, as well as other components of the suspension system, such as the springs.

If you notice that there’s something not quite right about how your vehicle handles, have the automotive shocks or car struts thoroughly inspected. When they go bad, the impact can be dangerous. It may be time to have them replaced for improved stopping performance, increased vehicle stability, and driver control.

Wondering what happens if you don’t replace bad struts? Contact our ASE Certified technicians at theWrench, Ltd. Car Care Center today at (360) 692-1414 for more information about automotive shocks, struts and suspension systems and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves residents in Silverdale, WA, and the surrounding area.