Shocks %26amp; Struts - what, why and when ?
What are shocks and struts?
It is important to note that not all vehicles have both shocks and struts. Some have just struts and some vehicles have only shocks. Shocks are part of the overall suspension, and a strut is a complete suspension assembly.
The shocks and/or struts in your car perform two functions. They dampen spring oscillation, and secondly, they aid in ride control. The springs in your car actually absorb road shocks (not the shock absorbers). The shock absorber's function is to dampen the bouncing spring. If you did not have shock absorbers to dampen the spring oscillations from road shock, your car would continuously bounce every time you hit a bump in the road, making it very difficult to handle and dangerous.
The shock absorbers in your car aid in ride control by keeping the car manageable during regular driving. They do this by keeping the tires down on the road and not allowing them to bounce after hitting a bump. This allows for ease of cornering and handling.
Why replace shocks and struts?
Under normal conditions on a smooth road, shocks stroke on average 1,750 times for every mile traveled or 7.5 million stabilizing actions on average every 12,000 miles. As a result, shocks and struts do wear out and should be checked every 12,000 miles just to be safe.
New Shocks and Struts Help...
Keep the tire in contact with the road by controlling spring and suspension movement.
Control vehicle bounce, roll and sway, dive, acceleration squat
The Benefit of replacing Worn Shocks and Struts...
Help reduce wear on other suspension components
Help maintain dynamic wheel alignment
Help prevent premature tire wear over a period of time
Help provide consistent control for improved handling and braking performance
Help prevent premature wear of suspension parts - ball joints, steering linkage, springs, C.V. joints
Don't "cut corners" when it comes to shocks and struts. Proper functioning of these parts is essential to the handling and cornering of your vehicle, making for safer driving conditions.
When should shocks and struts be replaced?
The symptoms of worn shocks and/or struts are:
Vehicle rolls or sways on turns
Front end dives when braking
Rear end squats when accelerating
Vehicle bounces or slides sideways on a winding, rough road
Vehicle "bottoms out" (with a thump) on bumps
Things to look for in a visual inspection:
Leaks on the housing
Dents on the shock or strut body
Worn rubber mounting bushings
Pitted piston rods
Crushed rubber bumpers from "bottoming out"
Abnormal wear on tires (high and low spots)
Hogan Tire stocks Monroe Sensa-Trac shocks and struts. Here's why...
Monroe Sensa-Trac now with the Safe-Tech System!
Conventional shocks and struts are limited by their valving. Their performance is generally a compromise between a comfortable ride and one that is more controlled. Monroe Sensa-Trac shocks and struts with the Safe-Tech system eliminate this compromise. The Sensa-Trac shock's precision tapered grooves allow the fluid to freely flow around and through the piston. The result is a smooth and comfortable ride. When the piston travels beyond the tapered grooves, fluid is directed totally through the piston, this results in extra vehicle control.
Monroe Sensa-Trac shocks and struts, featuring the new Safe-Tech System, maximize tire-to-road contact for a safe ride. In fact in a series of USAC certified tests, Sensa-Trac shocks with the Safe-Tech system, were shown to improve braking distance by an average of ten feet in a 60-0 mph braking test on a dry, bumpy road*.
Monroe compared the performance of a series of identical top-selling vehicles. In each pair, one vehicle was equipped with four new Sensa-Trac shocks with the Safe-Tech system, the other with three new and one 50% degraded shock absorber. The results were clear. Sensa-Trac shocks with the Safe-Tech system provided better tire-to-road contract, facilitating significantly shorter stopping distances and better handling.What's causing my car to screech around my rear tire when the car is in motion?hard to answer with out knowing what kind of car.If its front wheel drive then I would diffently go for the brakes first,you said you checked them,but make sure you check the inner pads too,also spin the wheel when its off the ground,that will check to make sure your calipers or emergency brake is not hanging up,you may be able to duplicate the noise,besides that not much else turns,could be a bearing.Some of the newer car have a set of brake shoes located inside the rear disks for the emergency brake,those should be checked also if the case,but be warned if you remove the rear disks those inner shoes may break in the process and you be buying new shoes.If you are not accustomed to doing brake jobs I would have a pro look at it.,....good luck,....also,when the wheel is off the ground,grap and tire and make sure that there is no play in the bearing,shake it back and forth,there should be no play at all,if there is that should be repaired ASAP.What's causing my car to screech around my rear tire when the car is in motion?i would check the wheel well, axle, ect to see if anything is touching
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