Shocks and struts are both important components in your car’s suspension system, but they’re not interchangeable. Rather, they work together to help you maintain a smooth and comfortable ride on whatever road you drive.
Whether you’re a car enthusiast or layperson, a mechanic or business owner, you’ve probably fallen victim to the common conflation of “shocks” and “struts.” For so many people inside and outside the professional car world, shocks and struts have become synonymous terms. But, technically speaking, they’re not—and it’s important to know the difference.
Shocks vs. struts
Shocks and struts are both important components in your vehicle’s suspension system, and they both function with the same intent: to keep your vehicle rolling smoothly and comfortably on the road.
Shocks and struts work together to:
- Make sure your wheels respond to steering
- Maintain traction between your tires and the road
- Keep your car balanced around turns and over bumps
- Reduce swaying, bouncing, and jerky movement
When you hit a pothole or drive on rocky roads, your shocks and struts do the work of mitigating the impact—both for your car and for your comfort.
But despite their similarities, shocks and struts are not the same, and they’re not interchangeable to your vehicle.
What do shocks and struts do?
Your shocks and struts help keep you safe and comfortable when you drive, especially on rough roads. But how exactly do these parts of your vehicle actually function? Let’s take a closer look.
Shocks
Shocks keep your tires in contact with the road surface and help your coil springs absorb any harsh impacts.
By absorbing impact, shocks also help you maintain control and safe handling of your vehicle.
Struts
Struts, on the other hand,are a combination of two components—the shock absorbers and coil springs—merged into a solitary unit.
Like shocks, your struts are partially responsible for absorbing rough impacts. But they’re also responsible for providing structural support to your vehicle by replacing the upper control arm and ball joint of traditional suspensions.
Struts also aid in maintaining steering and wheel alignment.
Where are shocks and struts located?
Shocks and struts typically come in pairs, with the front wheels and rear wheels of your vehicle having either a shock or strut attached.
The exact configuration of your vehicle’s shocks and struts can vary, but in most modern cars, you’ll find struts along the front axle and shocks along the rear.
If your shocks or struts are starting to fade, you’ll notice changes in your ride comfort and possibly ride quality.
But bad shocks and struts can make for more than just a bumpy ride—they can also hurt your steering and traction, resulting in unsafe driving conditions.
How do I know when I need new shocks and struts?
In general, shocks and strutswear out between 50,000 and 100,000 miles, but if you frequently find yourself driving on rough roads or towing heavy loads, they can wear out more quickly. Aggressive driving can also lead to early failure of your shocks and struts.
But spotting the symptoms of bad shocks and struts can be difficult. The resulting changes in your vehicle’s performance can occur gradually over time, making them harder to notice.
These symptoms also tend to overlap with signs of other problems, making them harder to diagnose.
Signs that your shocks and struts are wearing out
If you’re looking for ways to tell when your shocks and/or struts are wearing out, watch out for these common signs:
- Excessive vehicle bounce. If your rides are growing increasingly bumpier, or if you momentarily lose control of your steering when hitting a rough patch in the road, you may need to have your shocks and/or struts replaced.
- Fluid leak. If you notice hydraulic fluid coating the exterior of your shocks and/or struts, this could be a sign of these parts failing. Without enough fluid, your shocks and struts can’t absorb impacts effectively. You may also notice your steering wheel makes noise when turning.
- Treadwear. Uneven tire wear can be a tell-tale sign of bad struts or shocks, since both play a role in maintaining adequate traction between your tires and the road.
- Vehicle imbalance. When your shocks and struts wear out, it will throw your entire vehicle out of balance. You may notice your car sways when you try to brake or turn, or that the front end seems to nosedive when you slam the brakes. This can be a dangerous symptom, since it also impacts your stopping distance when braking.
- Lack of control at high speeds. If you’re experiencing uneven weight distribution or imbalance when driving, you may notice it most at high speeds. Bad struts and shocks can make your vehicle sway when you change lanes and even impact your steering.
How to buy replacement shocks and struts
If left alone, worn shocks and struts can start to damage other components in your suspension system, along with your wheels and tires.
Worn shocks and struts can decrease the effectiveness and response times of other major vehicle systems including your anti-lock braking system, steering system, traction control, and more.
As a part of basic car maintenance, you should have your shocks and struts looked at once a year or so. You’ll likely need to go to a mechanic for assistance. This is also a good time to check on the condition of any parts connected to your shocks and struts, like the bearing mounts, shock boots, and rubber bump stops.
When it comes to shock and strut replacement, you’ll need to tackle them in pairs. Replacing the shocks and/or struts on both axles is an even better idea if consistent and reliable handling is your top priority.
How to find hassle-free car insurance
Jerry believes that the path to low insurance rates should be smooth—which is why Jerry takes the work out of finding the best deals on car insurance for every vehicle.
A licensed insurance broker, Jerry can help you shop for low rates from dozens of name-brand insurance providers. When you find the perfect policy, Jerry makes swapping insurance a breeze by handling the phone calls, paperwork, and renewals for your top pick. Jerry can even help cancel your old insurance policy!
So why do all the extra work, when Jerry can do it better?
“I was tired of looking around at multiple websites, so I decided to give Jerry a try. Let me tell you—the process is so easy and simple, and they really find you the best prices for your coverage level. Getting insurance for my new car was quick and easy!” —Joanna D.
FAQ
-
What are the symptoms of a car with bad shocks?
-
What is the average lifespan of shocks on a car?
Kathryn is an insurance writer and recent graduate from Penn State University, with a Bachelor\\\\\\\’s in Women\\\\\\\’s and Gender Studies. During her time as a student, she completed a number of written projects, including her undergraduate thesis, \\\\\\\”#SUGARBABIES: Women\\\\\\\’s Negotiation of Agency and Sugar Culture on TikTok\\\\\\\” which is currently under review for publishing at the Journal of Undergraduate Research. Her first car was a green 1997 Subaru Impreza that she bought off of craigslist and named Delilah.
Melanie Reiff is an expert insurance writer and editor with over half a decade of experience in professional writing. Guided by a lifelong love of storytelling, it’s Melanie’s mission to help people problemsolve by means of creative and engaging content. Melanie specializes in analyzing the ways in which society, technology, and culture intersect, previously working with clients in travel, technology, and social impact to tell their stories.
As an editorial team lead at Jerry, Melanie has translated her prior experience into creating and editing insurance content that can help drivers and homeowners find the solutions they need and make informed moves.
Prior to joining Jerry’s editorial team, Melanie worked as a freelance content marketing strategist and was the full-time director of choir at Rampart High School Acadamy in Colorado Springs.
