Shock Absorber Replacement

If the car keeps rocking after a bump or dip instead of settling in one motion, the shocks are likely no longer dampening the spring. A quick way to feel it is a soft, wallowing ride over railroad tracks or expansion joints. An inspection confirms whether the shocks have faded.

Worn shocks let the front end pitch down more than it should under braking, which can lengthen how the car settles before it stops. The same weakness lets the rear squat under acceleration. It likely points to reduced damping, which we verify on inspection.

When a shock can't keep the tire planted, the tire can skip slightly as it rolls, wearing in scalloped or cupped patches. This likely ties back to damping, though alignment and balance can cause their own patterns, so we read the tire wear alongside the suspension.

A light film of oily grime running down a shock often means the internal seal is leaking and the shock is losing its hydraulic fluid. A leaking shock can no longer dampen properly. We look for this telltale streaking on each shock during the inspection.

If the body leans more than it used to through curves or feels unsettled over mid-corner bumps, the shocks may not be controlling weight transfer. Because sway bars and bushings can feel similar, we check the whole corner rather than assuming.