Struts

A suspension strut is a crucial component of your suspension in that it is the structural component that joins your vehicle body and wheels together. Your struts help enhance control when turning your car and stabilise the movement of your car when coming across rough surfaces, accelerating and braking. Both shock absorbers and suspension struts are designed to assist with alignment, steering and reducing vehicle jolts making for a smoother ride.

If you notice any of the below symptoms, it is essential to get a replacement strut to ensure further damage isn't caused to other components of your suspension system. When you shop at Repco, you can get your suspension fixed perfectly without blowing your budget.

• Bouncy suspension - when going over bumps, if you notice excessive bouncing, this can be a sign your strut is not working correctly. Your suspension should settle after hitting a bump as opposed to continuing to bounce.
• Unstable car - this can occur when braking or corning. When braking, if you feel your car dipping quickly into the ground, this can indicate that your shock is failing. Commonly known as a nose dive, this can also affect the way you pull up, increasing your stopping distance. When cornering if you notice your vehicle rolling or swaying when turning a corner, this is another sign your strut is wearing. This is an indication that your vehicle is not able to transfer weight when turning corners.
• Knocking noises or clucking noises - if your strut is worn, it is common to hear a knocking or clunking sound. This usually occurs if there is metal-to-metal contact when you hit a bump caused when the strut bottoms out. Other suspension parts can also cause this.
• Uneven wear of tyres - this can occur when your strut is broken or worn out, causing a reduction in holding force, therefore, can cause scalloping or cupping of the tyres. If you notice uneven wear on your tyres, check your suspension and get a wheel alignment done after replacing your struts.
• Leaking strut - if you notice fluid seeping from your strut, this can signify that your strut is wearing out, the fluid within your strut is crucial for your strut to function correctly.

If you have a broken or worn strut, it is important to replace it as soon as possible, as it can cause issues with other parts of your suspension. You can drive on a broken strut, but it is not recommended as it is uncomfortable to drive on for both you and anyone else in the vehicle and can be unsafe in that it can increase braking distance which is even more extreme in the wet and can cause an issue with scalloping or cupping in your tyres.