Shocks play an essential role in your vehicle’s suspension, ensuring a comfortable ride and proper traction and handling. Keep your car functioning at its best, facilitating a smooth ride and responsive braking and cornering with shock repair from RJ’s Tire Pros & Auto Experts. Our Yakima Valley auto repair shop provides fast, affordable suspension repairs for less than area dealers. We’re a trusted provider of vehicle service and maintenance throughout Yakima Valley.
How Shocks Function in Your Car
The terms shocks and struts are often used interchangeably. Both components play an essential role in vehicle ride comfort and handling, dampening motion and improving traction, but they’re not the same. Shocks mount between the frame and suspension and soften impacts when driving on uneven or damaged roads. Struts are structural components connected to the vehicle’s body that absorb impacts while bearing the vehicle's weight. They usually include a coil spring and shock absorber within the same assembly, which causes many people to confuse the components.
When to Replace Shocks
Suspension parts, including shocks, undergo tremendous stress and will inevitably wear out over time. Aggressive driving and rough road conditions, such as driving over uneven clay, gravel, or damaged roadways, speed deterioration. To keep your car performing at its best, our Yakima auto mechanics recommend a vehicle inspection at around 50,000 miles to identify worn components. Contact us promptly if your car shows common signs of shock failure:
- Shocks leak fluid
- Poor handling or loss of control when driving over uneven surfaces
- Clunking sound when hitting a bump or hole
- Car nose dives when braking
- Vehicle leans back or squats on takeoff
- Car rolls or sways when cornering
- Unusual tire wear and cupping around the tread edge
Suspension components, including struts and shocks, should be replaced in pairs to ensure safe, even handling. On average, strut and shock repair or replacement costs about $500-1,000 and can be completed in about 1-4 hours. The cost of servicing luxury vehicles and vehicles with different suspension styles, such as coil springs, leaf springs, and airbags, may vary. Our friendly mechanics are happy to provide a detailed repair estimate.
Should I Replace or Repair My Shocks?
With extreme wear or damage, our suspension repair experts may recommend a complete strut kit, which includes the strut, spring, and shock, allowing for quick replacement. With minimal impact damage, a strut damper repair may be all that is needed. Worn, leaky shocks are best replaced. Our experienced vehicle maintenance team will explain your suspension style and repair options so you can make the best decision for your vehicle and budget.
Make an Appointment for a Suspension Inspection
Ensure optimal vehicle safety, comfort, and handling with shock repair from RJ’s Tire Pros & Auto Experts. Contact us at 509-453-8170 to get an estimate on suspension repair for your Yakima, Selah, Naches, Union Gap, West Valley, or East Valley personal or commercial vehicle today.