Is Your Car “Cursed?” 6 Noticeable Symptoms of Worn Shocks

Your car’s shock absorbers do more than contribute to a smooth ride. In fact, their primary purpose is to help you maintain control of your vehicle. Since worn or bad shocks can turn any ride into an uncomfortable and even unsafe nightmare. Learn how to determine if your shocks are in need of some help. Remember the symptoms of worn or failing shocks by asking yourself, “Is my car showing signs of being C.U.R.S.E.D.?”

C – Car veering or sliding in side winds? Unless you’re driving through a tornado/ hailstorm and or a cyclone (which we don’t advise), this could mean you’re dealing with a shock absorber problem. Worn or leaking shocks can lead to unsteadiness on the road. You shouldn’t have to “correct” your car, even in mild gusts.

U – Uneven Uneven wear appearing on your tyres. Big red flag! When your shocks are worn, they can’t keep your tires firmly on the road. The result? Patchy areas of wear. To perform as the manufacturer intended, tyres must maintain uniform contact with the road. Uneven tire wear can increase your risk of hydroplaning and leave you more prone to a sudden flat.

R – Rocking, rolling and rattling. Hold tight! Is that a mini-earthquake? It could point to worn shocks when your vehicle shakes, rattles, and rocks a little too hard when driving over minor road bumps or railroad tracks. Since a car’s shocks are responsible for controlling the impact and vibration of a vehicle’s springs and suspension, worn ones won’t be able to soften the blows of the road. A rattling ride is not only uncomfortable, it can put undue pressure on other parts of the car and could soon lead to more than shock troubles.

S – Swerving and dipping when applying your brakes. If bringing your car to a stop causes the front end to dip noticeably or, worse yet, results in any swerving, worn shocks may be the culprit. Watch out, since this symptom could prove especially dangerous in wet weather.

E – Excessivevibration in your steering wheel. Traveling over an uneven road surface can naturally cause the steering wheel to vibrate a little, but the vibration should go away as soon as you reach a smoother surface. If the vibration remains constant while you’re driving, it might be a sign that there’s a serious problem with your shocks. At highway speeds, these vibrations could become more intense and hamper your ability to control the car.

D – Delayed or longer stopping distances. Worn shock absorbers can increase your braking distance by 20%, writes the tests that have been reliably taken and assessed in the automobile industry’s safety and standard fraternity, which could mean the difference between a safe stop and an accident. This symptom may have you coming in for a brake inspection, which is a big thumbs up, however experienced mechanics will be able to diagnose the real culprit, whether it’s low brake fluid, worn shocks, or something else entirely.