Post Summary: If your car keeps bouncing after bumps, dips more than usual when you brake, or sways in turns, your shocks or struts may be wearing out. Clunking, visible fluid leaks, changes in steering, and cupped tire tread are also worth checking. Several suspension and wheel problems can produce similar symptoms, so an inspection can help pinpoint what needs repair.
Does your car feel a little more like a boat than it used to? Maybe it keeps bobbing after you roll over a bump, or the front end dips hard every time you stop at a light. It's easy to brush that off as "just an older car." A lot of the time, though, it's your shocks or struts telling you they're wearing out.
The sneaky part is how slowly it happens. 
Shocks and struts lose a tiny bit of their control every month, and you get used to the ride right along with them. Most people don't notice how much has changed until they drive a newer car, or someone else drives theirs and says, "Whoa, what's going on with this thing?"
Here's the thing, though. The most common signs of bad shocks and struts are a floaty or bouncy ride, a front end that dives when you brake, leaning or swaying in turns, clunking over bumps, oily fluid leaking from the shock or strut, and tire cupping. If you're noticing one or more of these, it's a good time to have your suspension checked.
Shocks vs. Struts: What's the Difference?
People use these two words like they mean the same thing, and they're pretty close. Your springs hold up the weight of your car. Shocks and struts keep those springs from bouncing over and over after every bump, so your tires stay pressed against the road where they belong.
The difference is in how they're built:
A shock absorber (or shock) only handles the damping. It doesn't hold up any of the car's weight, and it's not part of the steering.
A strut does that same damping job, but it's also a structural part of the suspension. The coil spring usually sits right on the strut, and on the front of most cars, the strut is part of the steering, too.
Most cars and crossovers have struts up front. Some have struts on all four corners, and others have struts in front with shocks in back. Lots of trucks use shocks in the rear. If you're not sure which ones your vehicle has, a technician can tell you in about two minutes.
One big difference shows up when it's time to replace them. Struts affect how your wheels are lined up, so new struts usually mean you'll need an alignment afterward. Replacing shocks usually doesn't.
When it comes to symptoms, though, they act a lot alike. Everything below applies to both.
7 Signs of Bad Shocks and Struts
1. Your Car Feels Floaty or Bouncy
This is the classic one. If your car feels floaty on the highway, or it keeps bobbing up and down after a dip in the road or a set of railroad tracks, your shocks or struts may not be doing their job anymore.
A healthy suspension settles back down quickly after a bump. Worn ones let the car bounce a few extra times before it calms down. On rough roads, that can make the car feel loose and harder to keep steady in your lane.
Windy days can give you a clue, too. If a strong gust on the highway pushes your car around more than it used to, worn shocks or struts could be part of the reason.
2. Your Car Sways When Turning
Take a curve or an on ramp at a normal speed. Does the car lean way over to the outside, or rock side to side once you straighten out? If your car sways when turning, your shocks or struts may be too worn to keep the body steady.
That extra lean can catch you off guard when you need to make a quick move, like swerving around a deer on a back road at dusk. A car that rolls and wobbles in a sudden lane change is harder to control.
3. A Clunking Noise Over Bumps
A clunking noise over bumps is one of the top reasons people bring their car in for a suspension check. Sometimes it really is a worn shock or strut. Once a shock loses its damping, parts can bottom out and knock together, and a loose or worn mount can rattle with every pothole.
Just know that a clunk doesn't always mean your shocks or struts are bad. Worn strut mounts, sway bar links, bushings and ball joints can all make a very similar sound. That's why it pays to have a technician find the real source first. You don't want to buy new struts when the actual problem was a much cheaper part!
4. Leaking Shocks or Struts
Shocks and struts are filled with oil, and many have pressurized gas inside, too. That oil is what lets them control all that bouncing. When the seals wear out, the oil slowly seeps out, and the shock or strut loses its ability to do its job.
Leaking shocks and leaking struts are one of the easiest signs to check yourself. With the car parked on level ground, grab a flashlight and look behind each wheel at the shock or strut. You're looking for an oily, wet film on the body of it. Road dirt sticks to that oil, so a leaking shock often looks greasy and caked with grime.
A very light film can be normal on some shocks. If it looks wet, is dripping or is coated in oily dirt, though, have it looked at. A shock or strut that's leaking fluid is on its way out.
While you're down there, also look for a dented body, broken or loose mounts, and heavy rust where the strut and spring meet. Michigan road salt is tough on everything under your car, and suspension parts are no exception.
5. Tire Cupping or Uneven Tire Wear
This one surprises a lot of people. Your tires can tell you a lot about your shocks and struts.
Tire cupping (sometimes called scalloping) is a pattern of scooped out patches around the tread. Run your hand around the tire and it feels wavy, with high spots and low spots instead of a smooth surface. You may also hear a rhythmic hum or growl that gets louder as you speed up, and it's easy to mistake for a bad wheel bearing.
Cupping happens when a tire bounces as it rolls instead of staying flat against the road. Every time it slaps back down, it scrubs off rubber in the same spots. Worn shocks and struts are one of the most common causes of tire cupping. Wheels that are out of balance, a bent wheel or other worn suspension parts can cause it, too.
Other kinds of uneven tire wear can point back to the suspension as well. If one edge of a tire wears much faster than the other, that's often an alignment problem, and worn struts or a hard pothole hit can knock out your alignment. A wheel alignment check can tell you for sure.
Here's the frustrating part. Once a tire is cupped, fixing the suspension won't smooth it back out. And if you put new tires on without fixing the cause, they can start cupping, too. Catching it early can save you from replacing a set of tires sooner than you should have to.
6. Your Steering Feels Different
On most cars, the front struts are part of the steering system, so worn struts can change how your steering feels. You might notice the steering wheel vibrates, the car wanders and needs more little corrections to go straight or the steering just doesn't feel as tight as it used to.
A worn strut mount can also make a creaking, popping or clunking sound when you turn the wheel, especially at low speeds in a parking lot.
Plenty of other parts can cause steering trouble, too. If yours feels different, have it checked by a professional rather than guessing.
7. They Have a Lot of Miles on Them
Sometimes the biggest sign is right there on your dashboard. Shocks and struts wear a little with every mile, so the more miles they have, the more likely they're due. If your car is past 50,000 miles and still has its original shocks and struts, it's worth having them looked at, even if nothing feels wrong yet. (We'll cover how long they usually last a little further down.)
How to Tell If Shocks or Struts Are Bad: 4 Quick Checks
Wondering how to tell if struts are bad, or how to tell if shocks are bad, before you call a shop? You can't fully test them at home, but these quick checks can give you a good idea.
Try the bounce test. Push down hard on one corner of your car a few times, then let go. It should come back up and settle right away. If it keeps bouncing, that corner is likely worn. Fair warning, though: plenty of worn shocks and struts still pass this test, so don't count on it alone.
Do a flashlight check. Look at each shock or strut for oily leaks, dents, broken mounts or heavy rust.
Feel your tires. Run your hand around the tread (with the car parked!) and feel for a wavy, cupped pattern.
Take a test drive. Drive a road you know well. Notice how the car handles bumps, how much it dips when you brake, how much it leans in turns and if you hear any clunks.
If something seems off, the next step is a professional inspection. Gabriel, one of the big shock and strut makers, recommends having them inspected every 12 months or 12,000 miles. That's an easy one to add to a regular oil change or tire rotation visit.
Why Worn Shocks and Struts Are a Safety Issue
It's easy to think of shocks and struts as a comfort thing. A bouncy ride is annoying, sure, but is it really a big deal?
It can be. Your tires can only grip the road when they're pressed firmly against it. When shocks and struts wear out, the tires spend more time bouncing and less time gripping, and that shows up most when you need to stop or steer in a hurry.
Worn shocks and struts can also be harder on the rest of your car. Tires wear out faster, and other suspension parts take more of a beating from all that extra movement.
How Long Do Shocks and Struts Last?
There isn't one number that fits every car. Shock and strut makers like Gabriel and Monroe recommend replacing them around 50,000 miles. Keep in mind that's a general guideline, and the companies giving it are the ones that make the parts. Plenty of shocks and struts last longer than that, and some wear out sooner.
How long yours lasts really depends on how and where you drive. A few things wear them out faster:
Rough roads, potholes and gravel roads
Hauling heavy loads or towing a trailer
Road salt and rust, which can eat away at mounts and seals
Hard braking and fast cornering
If you spend your winters dodging potholes around Ionia County and drive a few gravel two-tracks to the cabin every fall, your shocks and struts are working a lot harder than they would on smooth highway miles. A good habit is to have them checked once your car passes 50,000 miles, and then once a year after that.
When to Replace Shocks and Struts?
So when is it actually time? Here's when to replace shocks and struts:
They're leaking, broken or damaged. A shock or strut that's leaking oil, bent or has a broken mount should be replaced soon, not someday.
You're noticing the signs. A floaty ride, nose diving, swaying in turns or clunking over bumps all point to shocks or struts that aren't doing their job.
Your tires are cupping. Replace the worn shocks or struts before (or when) you put new tires on, so the new set doesn't wear the same way.
A technician finds they're worn during an inspection. Since they wear so slowly, a tech will often catch it before you feel it.
A few tips when it's time:
Replace them in pairs. Shocks and struts are usually replaced two at a time, either both fronts or both rears. If you replace just one side, the car can handle unevenly, since one side will be much firmer than the other. If all four are worn, replacing all four will give you the most even ride.
Plan on an alignment after new struts. Since struts are part of how your wheels are lined up, swapping them almost always changes your alignment. An alignment afterward helps your tires wear evenly and keeps the car tracking straight.
Ask about complete strut assemblies. Many strut jobs today use a complete assembly that comes with a new spring and top mount already installed. It can save labor time and replaces the worn mount at the same time.
If your tires are already worn or cupped, now's a good time to take a look at new and used tires too. That way you're starting fresh with good tires on a suspension that will help them last.
Shocks and Struts Service in Ionia, MI
A bouncy, floaty ride isn't something you just have to live with. Paying attention to how your car handles, checking your tires for cupping and having your shocks and struts looked at every so often will help you catch problems early. Your car will stop better, handle better and feel a whole lot more like it did when it was newer. Good for you for paying attention to the signs!
If your car is showing any of these symptoms, bring it to Blundy-Hoppes. Our suspension, shocks and struts service starts with a good look at the whole suspension, so we can find out what's really going on. If your shocks and struts are fine, we'll tell you. If they're worn, we'll explain your options and get you back on the road with a ride you can trust.
We've been helping drivers in Ionia County since 1983, and we see folks from Belding, Saranac, Lake Odessa, Portland, Lowell, Greenville and all around the area. You'll find us at 3765 S State Rd on M-66, just south of Meijer. Give us a call at (616) 527-0670 to check prices or set up a time. We'll get your ride feeling smooth and steady again!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the signs of bad struts?
The most common signs of bad struts are a floaty or bouncy ride, the front end diving when you brake, leaning or swaying in turns, clunking over bumps, oily fluid leaking from the strut and tire cupping. Since front struts are part of the steering on most cars, you might also notice a steering wheel that vibrates or a car that wanders and needs more corrections to drive straight.
How do I know if my shocks are bad?
Signs of bad shocks include extra bouncing after bumps, the rear end squatting when you speed up, swaying or leaning in turns and clunking noises. Look for oil leaking down the body of the shock, too. The bounce test can help, but many worn shocks still pass it, so a professional inspection is the best way to know for sure.
What's the difference between shocks and struts?
Both shocks and struts control the bouncing of your car's springs. A shock only does that job. A strut is also a structural part of the suspension that supports the spring, and on most cars it's part of the steering. That's why replacing struts usually means you'll need an alignment afterward, while replacing shocks usually doesn't.
Can I drive with bad shocks or struts?
You can usually drive a short distance to get them checked, but don't put it off for long. Worn shocks and struts on a car can make it take longer to stop and harder to control in a sudden swerve or emergency stop. If a shock or strut is leaking badly, broken or making loud clunking noises, have it looked at as soon as you can.
What causes tire cupping?
Tire cupping happens when a tire bounces as it rolls instead of staying flat on the road, which scrubs off rubber in uneven patches. Worn shocks and struts are one of the most common causes. Unbalanced wheels, a bent wheel and other worn suspension parts can cause it, too. Fix the cause before putting on new tires, or the new ones can cup as well.
How long do shocks and struts last?
It depends on your car, your roads and how you drive. Shock and strut makers recommend replacing them around 50,000 miles, though many last longer. Rough roads, potholes, towing, heavy loads and road salt can wear them out sooner. Once your car passes 50,000 miles, have them inspected once a year.
Should shocks and struts be replaced in pairs?
Yes. Shocks and struts are usually replaced in pairs, either both fronts or both rears. Replacing just one can make your car handle unevenly, since one side will feel firmer than the other. If all four are worn, replacing all four gives you the most balanced ride.
Do I need an alignment after replacing struts?
Usually, yes. Struts are part of how your wheels are lined up, so replacing them almost always changes your alignment. Getting an alignment afterward keeps your car driving straight and helps your tires wear evenly.
Can bad shocks cause a clunking noise over bumps?
They can. A worn shock or strut can bottom out and knock, and worn mounts can rattle over bumps. Other parts like sway bar links, bushings and ball joints can make the same kind of noise, though. A technician can track down exactly where the clunk is coming from before you replace anything.
