How Long Do Shocks And Struts Last? | Informative Guide
The shocks and struts in the suspension system of your vehicle keep it balanced while driving. They are responsible for providing you with a comfortable ride. The shock absorbers are much reliable than other vehicle parts, but they still need replacement.
Most vehicle owners don't understand the danger of driving with nasty shocks or struts. The damaged struts can increase your car's stopping distance leading to accidents.
You might be wondering how long do shocks and struts last and when to replace the shocks? There is no hard and fast rule regarding the average life of the shock. It depends on the care that you provide to your vehicle. Generally, the shock absorbers of a well-maintained car long for 10 years.
What are the shocks and struts on a car?
Both shocks and struts are the part of suspension system of any vehicle to resists the shocks. Both of them help stabilize the movement of your car. As a result, the shocks and struts allow you to control your vehicle while turning, braking, or accelerating on uneven road surfaces.
Many people consider both these terms the same. But, both are different in reality. In modern vehicles, struts are present on the front and shocks on the rear wheels. Another difference is that the replacement shocks are the independent components, while struts work in collaboration with shock.
However, both are integral components of your car. Without them, your vehicle will bounce on the uneven road surface.
How long do shocks and strut last?
There is not a clear answer for when to replace the shocks and struts. Actually, their life depends on many factors. Some of these factors are how frequently you're using your car and the road condition where you're driving?
If you're driving just a few miles a day on your car, definitely shock absorber will stay longer. Moreover, driving on a smoother road with decent speed and less weight can guarantee the longer life of car struts.
Generally, the shocks of a well-maintained car last for 10 years. However, if you're using the car too much, you may have to replace your car struts in 5 years. You can also say that 7-8 years is the maximum life of most shocks and struts.
Experts suggest replacing both the shocks and struts every 50,000-10,000 miles when discussing the same in miles.
Usually, both the right and left shocks wear down at the same rate. So, there are chances that you need to replace shocks on both sides.
6 Warning Signs of Bad Shocks and Struts
Many people are not well-aware of their bad struts. It may lead to long-term damage. But how would you realize that the shocks and struts of your car are bad? Following are some warning signs that clearly indicate bad shocks.
1. Instability
Instability and jerky movement is perhaps the most common sign of bad shocks or struts. While running on the highway, your car will never move smoothly. You'll feel that your vehicle is unstable and making jerky movements.
2. Leaks
Bad struts mostly get leaked. You can check easily if they are leaking or not with a flashlight. While viewing the shocks and struts, find the answer to these simple questions.
● Is fluid leaking onto the bottom part of the shocks?
● Do you see any splash of fluid?
If the answer to both the questions is "yes," it means your car's shocks need to be replaced. But be aware of the scammers who pour oil to show you oily struts.
3. Control loss
Another sign that is obvious in case of bad struts is loss of control. While turning the car, if your vehicle is not stable, it means it's time to replace the struts.
To be clear about the bad car struts, just take a sharp one-side turn with your vehicle. You will feel that your car leans towards the one side. It means your car's struts get failed to stable your vehicle and need to be replaced as soon as possible.
4. Vibrating Steering wheel
While driving, a vibrating steering wheel indicates that the wheels are unbalanced. The unbalanced wheel means your car got worn out struts.
5. The situation of tires
The bad shock absorbers make your car tires bounce excessively. You may also hear a clunking noise after hitting the bump.
Besides, unusual tire wear is another sign associated the bad tires. You would see that your car's tires are wearing in a wavy manner.
6. Braking Issue
Most importantly, you can never ignore the sign of a bad break experience. With damaged shocks and struts, you would feel that your car is getting unstable while braking.
What to consider while replacing the shocks and struts?
You can't just go and buy any struts or shocks. To buy the best shock absorbers, consider the following things:
● Firstly, make sure you're buying from the trusted brands.
● Secondly, ensure that shocks/struts are not stiffer. Otherwise, you'll not get a comfortable feel while driving.
● Lastly, ask your auto professional if you need to buy the connected parts of the struts. Maybe you also need to replace the worn mounts or shock boots.
Final thoughts…!!!
To sum up, you can't find a clear answer to how long do the shocks and struts last. It's totally up to you for how long do struts last. If you're taking care of your vehicle and driving only a few miles a day, you can expect car struts with longer life. However, I would suggest you never ignore the warning signs of the bad shocks and replace them as soon as possible. Otherwise, you may have to bear severe consequences.
