Shake, Rattle, and Roll could be the description of an earthquake. It was also a song recorded by Elvis, the man some call the King of Rock and Roll. But if you want to be king (or queen) of the road, having worn out shocks and struts will shake you right off your throne—no earthquake needed! When your suspension system is operating efficiently, it takes a beating, so you don’t have to.
On the other hand, when it’s not working well, your ride is anything but smooth. Are you experiencing the following as you drive?
- Bounce — The compression of the spring and damper of the shock absorber keeps your wheels on the asphalt. When compromised, you will feel the car jump when it hits a bump.
- Sway and Roll — When you take a turn, does the body of your car tilt? Sways and rolls happen when worn out suspension system parts allow gravity to compress the outside of the car and lift the inside during a turn. Your car should feel solid while turning.
- Diving and Squatting — Coming to a stop, does the nose of your car dive down? Squatting occurs when the rear of the car dips during hard acceleration. Each might mean that your suspension system is not operating efficiently.
- Rattling — hearing loud noises such as clunking and rattling could mean a number of things, the main one being that it’s time to bring your car into a trusted professional!
Any one of these indications means it might be time to replace your shocks or struts. Your suspension system eases the pain of driving through road construction zones and stabilizes you as you run into bumps in the road. We take the system for granted as we brake, hit the gas pedal or navigate turns. But the above indications are like having a toothache. Treat it early and you have minimal pain, damage, and cost. If you wait, it begins to affect other parts of your car, such as your tires.
So, what should you do? In an earthquake, try to find something solid to crawl under. While you’re down there, take some time to listen to the original Joe Turner version of Shake, Rattle, and Roll — considered to be 126th of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine. And when that pothole feels like it will rattle the fillings out of your teeth, call the professional at Certified Automotive Specialists a call at 253-854-6762 or schedule your appointment online today!
