Discover what struts and shock absorbers are on a car at Bob Howard Chevrolet.
Struts and shocks play a vital function on your car, but they are designed in entirely unique ways. Both struts and shock absorbers are essential to a vehicle’s suspension system and how it handles the road below it. The perfect suspension system helps with the handling and ride quality of your ride, so great struts and shocks can help create the best ride possible. The role shock absorbers play is more of a singular role in the suspension system by just absorbing any bumps in the road. While the struts also mitigate bumps from the road, they also serve a larger structural role by bringing support to the chassis of the vehicle, especially if you are offroading. Both components are there to ensure that each drive you take is as good as the last one, so making sure they’re in good condition will benefit you greatly.
Shock absorbers control the movement of a car’s suspension for maximum performance, or more simply put, they absorb the bumps in the road for a smoother ride. This makes them incredibly important for a vehicle because, without them, the vehicle will not be able to handle most bumps in the road. If you are the risk-taking sort and love to tackle the road less traveled, some beefy shocks can do a lot to make sure you are having fun behind the wheel. On a fast car, drivers may want a stiff suspension for better handling, while owners of a luxury car may need a soft suspension for a relaxing ride.
Struts have two unique jobs on a car, first, they help absorb bumps in the road, but they also provide some structural support for the suspension. While each component is instrumental to each drive taken in the car, struts have a bigger role on the car. High-performance struts are aimed to give your vehicle a firm performance at high speeds, while struts for a Sport Utility Vehicle may be asked to balance offroad needs while also giving drivers more control.
The easiest way to identify that your struts are bad is if your vehicle doesn’t seem 100%. The tiny differences in performance can be large indicators of issues. Small changes like the vehicle leaning too far while making a turn, your vehicle bouncing more than normal over small bumps, or difficulty handling of your car are some simple insights that your car may need suspension repair. So pay attention the next time you go for your next drive, take a moment to evaluate any differences in the vehicle’s performance, and when you feel like something is off, our trained service technicians are ready to assist you.
Stop by and see the professionals at Bob Howard Chevrolet for your next car service in Oklahoma City. You can meet with our service team and get your Chevrolet assessed to make sure your vehicle is operating at its best. Visit us online or in person to schedule your appointment.