What Are Struts and Shock Absorbers?

December 8th, 2022 by
what are struts and shock absorbers?

Discover what struts and shock absorbers are at Sterling McCall Chevrolet.

Shock Absorbers and struts play a vital function on your vehicle, but they are designed in entirely different ways. Both struts and shock absorbers are crucial to a vehicle’s suspension system and how it handles the road below it. The perfect suspension system helps with the handling and ride quality of your vehicle, so great struts and shock absorbers can help create either a pillowy soft ride or a corner-carving monster, whatever you might desire. Shock absorbers play a smaller role in the suspension system focusing only on suspension movement. While the struts also mitigate bumps from the road, they also play more of a structural role by bringing support to the chassis of the vehicle, especially when you’re driving offroad. Both parts are there to ensure that each drive you take is as smooth as the previous one, so keeping them in the best shape will help you a lot.



What Do Shocks Do?

What Do Shocks Do?

Shock absorbers help control the suspension travel on your vehicle for maximum performance, or more simply put, they absorb the bumps in the road for a smooth ride. This makes them incredibly important for your car because, when they fail, the vehicle won’t be able to absorb as many bumps in the road. If you’re the adventurous sort and love to go offroading, some beefy shocks can go a long way toward making sure you’re having a good time behind the wheel. On a racecar, drivers will probably need a stiff suspension for improved handling, while a luxury car may want a soft suspension for a pillowy soft ride.

What Do Struts Do?

What Are Struts?

Struts perform two specific functions on your vehicle, like a shock absorber, they help absorb bumps in the road, but unlike shock absorbers, they also provide structural integrity for the vehicle. While both components are instrumental in every drive you take in your vehicle, struts have a more overarching purpose on the vehicle. High-performance struts are aimed to give your car impressive performance when driving at high speeds, and struts on an SUV may be asked to balance offroad needs while also giving you increased control.

How Do Drivers Know If My Struts Are Bad?

How Do Drivers Know If My Shock Absorbers and Struts Are Bad?

The simplest way to tell that your struts are bad is if the car doesn’t feel 100%. The tiny changes in performance can be big indicators of issues. Tiny changes like your car leaning too far while turning, your car bouncing more than usual, or just problems with the handling can be some simple insights into the struts and shocks needing replacement. So when you go for your next drive, take a second to evaluate any differences in the car’s performance, and when you notice any issues, our skilled service technicians are ready to help.



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Stop by and see the professionals at Sterling McCall Chevrolet for your next car service in Houston. You can meet with our service team and get your Chevrolet assessed to make sure your vehicle is operating at its best. Visit us online or in person to schedule your appointment.


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What Are Struts and Shock Absorbers? | Sterling McCall Chevrolet

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