Difference Between Shocks and Struts
Many times, you hear shocks and struts in the same sentence, and for good reason. The role of both components is to keep your car’s tires connected with the road in various ways. However, they’re markedly different in the way they work.
So, what’s the difference between shocks and struts? The team at Ira Toyota of Orleans is here to answer that question for Orleans, Eastham, and Harwich, MA, travelers!
What Do Shocks and Struts Do?
Great question! To reiterate, in their simplest forms, shocks and struts both play a major role in keeping your vehicle’s tires on the road. They control excessive car body and tire movement; reduce bounce, roll, and sway; support consistent, smooth handling and braking; maintain wheel alignment; and maintain the functionality of your tires by reducing wear.
That’s why you’ll often hear them mentioned together, especially when it comes to repairs. Now that you know the similarities between the two components, we’ll dive into their differences.
What Are Shocks and What Do They Do?
Shocks are individual components designed to control spring and suspension movement. Many of them are velocity-sensitive, meaning they provide more resistance the faster your vehicle’s suspension moves. This helps cut down on bounce, roll and sway, brake dive, and acceleration squat. For example, if you’re driving on an uneven road, your shocks help keep your ride as stable as possible.
Without shocks in these types of road conditions, you’d be more susceptible to experiencing an uneven ride, increasing the likelihood of a possible collision.
What Are Struts and What Do They Do?
Struts are generally lighter and take up less space than shocks because of their design and location where the upper control arm and upper ball joint are in a conventional suspension. Nowadays, you’ll find struts in many independent suspensions and vehicles with front-wheel drive.
These components are responsible for multiple things: perform damping functions like shocks due to their speed-sensitive nature, provide structural support for the vehicle’s suspension and springs, and keep the tires aligned. As such, struts heavily impact your overall ride, including braking, steering, and more.
How Often Do Shocks and Struts Need To Be Serviced?
While there’s no concrete answer to this question, you should reasonably expect to have your vehicle’s shocks and struts serviced every 50,000 to 100,000 miles. However, this will depend on your driving style. If you’re a more aggressive driver, you can expect to replace them more often. Being able to identify when the time comes for service is important, so here are some signs to watch out for:
- Tires bounce excessively
- Shocks and/or struts have fluid leaking on them
- Front end of the vehicle rises while the rear end sinks
- Vehicle leans to one side when turning
Now that you know some warning signs of shock and strut wear, you’ll know exactly when to bring in your car for service.
Come See Ira Toyota of Orleans for Shock and Strut Service
Knowing the difference between shocks and struts is important. Having them serviced by a reliable team of technicians is crucial. When the time comes for service, Orleans, Eastham, and Harwich, Massachusetts, drivers can turn to the skilled team at Ira Toyota or Orleans. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
