Consumer Education
Bouncy Bouncy – Are My Shocks Bad?
When Smyrna motorists think about preventive maintenance, what usually comes to mind is oil, fluids and brakes. We don’t generally think about our shocks or struts, but these critical auto parts keep our tires on the road.
Smyrna motorists don’t think about shocks as often as oil changes because shocks and struts last a long time and wear out slowly. They don’t need to be checked as often as our brake pads or air filters. By the time your shocks have fifty thousand miles on them, their performance will have noticeable degraded. If you want to restore the handling and ride designed for your sedan, consider replacing your shocks and struts.
Of course, if you drive off-road around Smyrna, carry heavy loads, tow a trailer, or put in a lot of mileage on poor driving surfaces, your shocks or struts will wear out more quickly. You’ll need to replace them more often or upgrade to better shocks.
Your suspension system uses springs and shocks to absorb the “shocks” and vibrations of driving over road surfaces. Springs support the sedan’s weight, suspending it above the axles so the body of the sedan is protected from most of the bumps on the road. Shocks control the bounciness of the springs by moderating rebound. They also push your tires down onto the road’s surface, maximizing traction. Without shocks, your wheels would bounce over bumps and lift against curbs and corners. Shocks are critical to the safe handling of your sedan as well as a comfortable ride. Struts are a combination shock and spring in one unit.
Worn shocks result in lowered vehicle handling performance. If your vehicle “squirms” around corners or gets “floaty” over bumps, then you need to check your shocks. If the rear end of your vehicle squats while accelerating, the front end dips while braking, or one corner sags, you probably need new shocks.
Uneven tire wear may also be an indication of bad shocks. If shocks are damaged or leaking, they definitely need to be replaced.
If one of your shocks needs to be replaced, you need to replace them all. This will maintain an even ride and predictable, safe handling.
If you’re unsure whether you need new shocks, or if you’re considering upgrading to a higher quality shock, then consult with your Personable Cooper Lake Automotive technician. They can give you vital auto advice on the condition of your shocks and how to match your driving needs to the quality of your shocks.
Good car care is essential to the safety, performance and efficiency of your sedan. It can improve the comfort of your ride as well.
The Cooper Lake Automotive Guide to Saving Fuel: Car Weight
The team at Cooper Lake Automotive in Smyrna and GA car owners are all talking fuel efficiency right now. Better gas mileage. Fewer emissions. Smyrna car owners want to save the environment and their pocketbooks.
And we all know—or should know—that preventive maintenance will help maximize gas mileage. But is there something more Smyrna auto owners can do? After all, some of us Smyrna folks can’t cut back on our driving, and others would like to do more to economize.
Weight is one major enemy of fuel economy. The more you lug around in your vehicle, the more fuel you have to burn to get from Smyrna to Atlanta. And that means buying more gas in Smyrna and producing more emissions.
Of course, your sedan’s weight isn’t negotiable. And you can’t do much about the weight of your passengers. And this isn’t an article about diet and exercise.
But look around your sedan. Are you hauling a bunch of unnecessary weight around GA? Do you really need your golf clubs every time you leave your Smyrna home? Store sports equipment in the garage. Load it when you need it and store it when you don’t. Who knows? The extra exercise just might reduce the other type of weight in your vehicle.
The same goes for anything else in your car: make-up kits, music collections, extra electronics, spare clothing; whatever your particular extras may be. Pack it when you need it; store it when you don’t.
Clean out your car. You’d be surprised how much weight you’re lugging around in plain old junk. Toss old papers, leftover food, and regular old dirt. Even if it’s not a lot of weight, you’ll feel better when you get into your car. A good cleaning is also part of good car care.
