Tips

Your vehicle's shocks and struts slowly deteriorate over time, though this wear is normally difficult to detect. To maximize your vehicle's ride comfort and safety, it is recommended to replace your vehicle's shocks and struts every 50,000 miles. Worn shocks and struts can also cause additional wear to other vehicle components. Affected components include:
Brakes
Tie rods
Ball joints
Tires
To inspect your shocks and struts to gauge wear, check for:
Leaking oil or wetness along the body of the shock or strut.
Broken mounts, worn or missing bushings.
Broken, damaged, or missing mounting hardware.
Severely dented reservoir tube, bent or scratched piston rod.
Cupped tire wear.
Damaged strut body springs, seats, and bushings.
Defective strut bearing or missing plate.

FAQ

Is there a difference between a shock and a strut?
Yes, though shocks and struts perform a similar function, they vary greatly in their design. Struts are an integral part of a vehicle's suspension system, providing structural support for the vehicle and, as such, are a safety subsystem. Shocks work separately from any structural function, simply absorbing and damping the bumps from the road.
Do gas charged shocks or struts contain oil?
Yes, all shocks and struts use hydraulic fluid (oil) to control damping. A gas charged shock or strut uses high-pressure nitrogen gas to reduce oil foaming during high-speed damping, and therefore maintains performance.
Can I check my vehicle's shocks for wear?
Yes, it is possible to do a quick check at home for wear on your vehicle's shocks or struts. You can look for any physical damage to the shock or strut housing or any leaking - this is especially common on rear units that tend to have stones kicked up by the front wheels. You can also perform a bounce test by taking each corner of the vehicle and pushing down hard. The corner should drop, rise and settle again. If the body continues to move up and down, there's a good chance your shocks need to be replaced. Though these home tests can indicate worn shocks or struts, it is also recommended that you take your vehicle to a qualified service technician and let them do a thorough inspection every 12 months or 12,000 miles.
Should I have my vehicle aligned after replacing my shocks or struts?
Yes, if you are replacing your vehicle's struts. However, it is not necessary to get your vehicle aligned when replacing your vehicle's shocks unless there was or is a previous issue.
Do I need different shocks for front, rear, left, or right applications?
Yes, it is important to choose the correct shock or strut for your vehicle model and year, as well as for the location in the vehicle.

Troubleshooting

There is excessive nose dive while braking
Your vehicle has 'acceleration squat'
Your vehicle does not return to a neutral position
Your steering pulls
There is a strut mount or bearing noise
It could be time to replace your shocks or struts if, when driving on a surface with bumps and/or dips:
Your ride is harsh, bumpy or shaky
Your vehicle bounces excessively
Your vehicle veers in side winds
Your vehicle leans or sways while turning
Your vehicle bounces excessively after hitting a bump
Your vehicle bottoms out
Uneven patches of wear on the edges of your tire can be a sign of weak ride control (shocks or struts). This wear, called cupping, appears as scalloped dips around the surface of the tread. Other signs it could be time to replace your shocks or struts include:
If your vehicle's height seems lower than normal when measured
If you notice fluid leakage from your vehicle's shocks or struts
If your vehicle's shocks or struts have dented or heavily scratched housings or mounts

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