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United Tire and Service News

How To Know When Your Shock Absorbers Have Gone Bad

10/4/2022 4:04:00 PM | (791) View Count | Return
When you're on the road, you want things to go smoothly in more ways than one. However, if your shock absorbers have gone bad, that likely won't be the case. If you're not sure if your shock absorbers are the culprits, we'll help you figure it out. 
 

Your Vehicle is Unstable at Highway Speedsshock absorber on car

One of the symptoms of bad shocks is that your vehicle feels unstable when you are driving on the highway. This is certainly not normal if your vehicle's shock absorbers are working normally. You will likely also feel that your vehicle is moving up and down constantly while you are on the highway. Your vehicle may only be moving up and down slightly during all of this.
 
However, it will still be significant enough for you to notice. If this is the case, then you should get your shock absorbers checked out. Your vehicle should be stable at highway speeds if you have functioning shock absorbers.
 

Your Vehicle's Tires Bounce Excessively

Another one of the bad shocks symptoms is if your vehicle's tires bounce more than they should. You can clearly notice this after you hit a curb or pothole. Once that has happened, you can feel that your tires are bouncing or reacting for an extended period of time. It is also possible that you will hear a clunking noise coming from your vehicle, as well. 
 
It is normal for your vehicle's tires to react a bit when going over a bump — this is to be expected. However, if your vehicle's tires are reacting for longer than they should, this is one of the signs of bad shocks.
 

Your Vehicle Tips to One Side When You Turn

This is one of the more dangerous consequences of having bad shock absorbers. If your shock absorbers have gone bad, your vehicle might tip to one side or the other when it turns. This is most noticeable when your vehicle is going on an off-ramp or taking a sharp turn. When this happens, your vehicle will lean to the outside of the turn.
 
Your vehicle will also feel a bit shaky, as well. As stated previously, this can really be a major hindrance to safe driving. If you experience this, your shock absorbers are certainly not working as they should. 
 

The Wear on Your Vehicle's Tires Is Unusual

Wear on your vehicle's tires is perfectly normal. That is a typical result of driving your car on a regular basis. However, the tire wear should be even. If you see that the tread is not wearing down evenly on your vehicle's tires, your shock absorbers may have gone bad.
 
If this is the case, you will normally see that the tread will wear down in a wavy pattern instead of evenly. This is certainly a cause for concern. The tread wears down in a wavy pattern due to the fact that the tire isn't getting held firmly to the road. 
 

shock absorberYour Vehicle's Front End Dives Too Much During Hard Braking

The front end of your vehicle should not dive that much even when you are doing some hard braking. If the front of your vehicle does dive too much during hard braking, this could be one of the signs of bad shocks.
 
It could take some time to recognize this as one of the symptoms of bad shocks. This is because you might not notice it until you have to do some hard braking. Regardless, you should definitely go in and get your shock absorbers checked if your vehicle's front end dives excessively during hard braking.
 

United Tire is here to help in the greater Philadelphia area

If your shock absorbers are giving you trouble, you'll want a knowledgeable team to help you out. United Tire locations have operated in and around the greater Philadelphia area for decades. Each location is independently owned and operated, so you can ensure that you're trusting your car with a great local business. Don't hesitate to reach out to our team with any needs or questions. You can schedule your next appointment online here. 
 

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At United Tire & Service, our staff is here to serve customers throughout Pennsylvania. We offer top-quality auto repair services done by expert technicians. From an oil change or brake repair to auto air conditioning repair, muffler repair, engine diagnostics, wheel alignment, car batteries, fleet repair, tire repair, suspension repair and Pennsylvania state vehicle inspections, we do it all. We also stock a wide selection of tires from all the top brands in the industry including Goodyear Tires, Dunlop Tires, Kelly Tires, and many more. Schedule an appointment with us today at one of our locations in Concordville, Downingtown, Emmaus, Feasterville, Phoenixville, Southampton, Paoli, West Chester or Willow Grove, PA. We are your number one source for top quality, affordable auto repair and tires!